Coulson Aviation addresses safety deficiencies after regulator's findings on firefighting operations

Coulson Aviation, which operates New South Wales' aerial firefighting fleet, was found to have serious safety procedure deficiencies by the aviation safety regulator. This follows a 2023 crash of a Boeing 737 during firefighting efforts. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority's report highlighted an "organisational failure" in Coulson's safety assessments and incident investigations. The company has since claimed to have addressed all identified issues and is now considered safe to operate. The NSW Rural Fire Service, which recently renewed its contract with Coulson, expressed confidence in the company's compliance with safety regulations. The regulator's findings also noted a lack of access to global safety data, impacting risk assessments.