Coulson Aviation fleet members
PORT ALBERNI – Founded in 1960 by Cliff Coulson, The Coulson Group has grown under son Wayne Coulson’s leadership into a group of companies spanning aviation, manufacturing logging and more.
Coulson Aviation is now recognized globally for aerial firefighting, heavy-lift operations, manufacturing and aircraft support. As they continue to expand, the company is focusing significantly in skilled trades, and with that, comes the need for strong, skilled people.
Included in that group is Aircraft Structures Lead Rebekah Czarnecki and Coulson Aviation’s Transport Canada Approved Training Organization student Ashley Keen.
Rebekah represents the experienced leadership they have within their Structures department, taking on major aircraft modification work and helping support the next generation of technicians.
Ashley represents the future of that workforce as she builds her career through Coulson’s ATO program and trains toward becoming an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer, Structures.
Ashley Keen is an Approved Training Organization program trainee at Coulson Aviation
In other words, Coulson’s growth is not just about aircraft, contracts, or technology. It is also about the people behind the scenes who are building, maintaining, modifying, and improving the aircraft that make our operations possible.
Programs like their VLAT work and the development and release of SAFEFUEL show how the company is not only growing operationally, but also investing in new solutions that support the future of aerial firefighting and aviation safety.
Coulson supports women in the trades by creating pathways into highly technical roles, providing hands-on experience, and surrounding new technicians with experienced leads and mentors. Having women like Rebekah in leadership is important because it gives other women coming into the trade someone they can learn from and look up to.
For Ashley, the ATO program gives her access to training, real aircraft, experienced technicians, and a direct path into a long-term career without the barrier of paying tuition upfront.
“I quickly saw myself being drawn to this kind of work: engaging, fast paced, and a challenge within one of the coolest businesses I’ve been involved with,” she says. “I loved the prospect of being the first woman through the course, and I finally got into the ATO and have been just growing more since.”
Rebekah Czarnecki is an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer serving as Aircraft Structures Lead at Coulson Aviation
Rebekah is the sole structures supervisor for the RADS modification installation on Coulson’s latest Boeing 737-300. The project is a major structural installation, and she is proud to be leading that work.
“It’s a massive structural installation and I’m proud to tackle it head on,” Rebekah notes. “I would not be the technician I am today without all the exposure I’ve gotten since working with Coulson Aviation. I’ve enjoyed getting into research and development, hand making whole kits in their manufacturing department, installing Mod packages, having more direct involvement with mechanical and avionics aspects, plus seeing so many prototypes through beginning to end hand-in-hand with engineering and design.”
Coulson has continued to experience steady growth across several areas of the company, including aerial firefighting, aircraft maintenance, manufacturing, training, and technology development.
As their operations have expanded across Canada, the United States, Australia, and South America, so has the need for highly skilled people behind the scenes.
A big part of Coulson’s success has been their willingness to reinvest in people, technology, and training.
Coulson, a third generation company, has grown from its family roots in Port Alberni into a global aviation company by staying innovative, adapting to the needs of the industry, and building strong internal teams.
Their success comes from high standards, hands-on experience, strong mentorship, and giving people the opportunity to build meaningful careers in aviation.
Rebekah and Ashley are great examples of that. One is already leading in the trade, and the other is building her future through the program.
