THERMAL, Calif. – December 22, 2025 – Courson Aviation officially announced the launch of the new Boeing 767 Very Large Airtanker (VLAT) program, marking a major step forward in global aviation firefighting capabilities.
This initiative aims to sustainably replace traditional VLAT platforms that are nearing the end of their operational life.
recent MD-11 and DC-10 Fleet retirements have highlighted structural challenges for fire authorities around the world. As aging wide-body aircraft are retired, the ability to drop large quantities of extinguishant on large missions is significantly reduced.
Coulson’s Boeing 767 VLAT is designed to fill these gaps, offering higher payload, lower fuel consumption and long-term operational sustainability compared to existing platforms.
“The aviation firefighting field is rapidly changing the types of aircraft available, and authorities are looking for safe, efficient, and sustainable solutions for decades to come,” said Britt Courson, president and CEO of Courson Aviation USA. “The 767 is a proven widebody platform with world-class support, extensive parts availability, state-of-the-art systems and very competitive operating costs. This program leverages these strengths to deliver performance beyond traditional VLAT.”
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The 767 VLAT will carry the largest version of the company’s patented Retardant Aerial Delivery System (RADS) ever developed, while also maintaining the capacity to carry more than 160 passengers. The fire extinguishing agent tank capacity is expected to exceed that of any VLAT currently in operation. The aircraft is designed around the concepts of multi-mission and ‘all-risk’ flexibility that characterize the Coulson fleet, delivering significant improvements in payload, fuel efficiency and serviceability throughout its lifecycle. The engineering phase, structural analysis and system integration planning are already underway.
The new 767 VLAT will replace Courson’s existing fleet, including the C-130H Hercules and 737 Fireliner. Large Airtanker fleet Supplement and expand. These are currently rated as the largest operational solutions for 4,000 gallon LAT.
With the addition of next-generation VLAT, the company aims to provide fire authorities with a new strategic tool in scenarios that require continuous, high-capacity aerial firefighting over extended periods of time.
Coulson Aviation says it continues to invest ahead of demand to ensure its partners have access to reliable and effective aircraft with worldwide support. The Boeing 767 VLAT program represents the next step in the evolution of heavy aviation firefighting and strengthens the company’s leadership in providing safe, innovative and responsive solutions to the international firefighting community.
Source and image: Coulson Aviation. This content is created with the assistance of AI and reviewed by our editorial team.
