Aerial firefighting is one of the most demanding and precise operations in emergency response.
When wildfires outrun crews on the ground, aircraft become the front line – fighting with calculated accuracy to slow the spread of the threat and protect lives, homes and critical infrastructure in its path.
Cooling temperatures, reduced wind and rising humidity at night make for the ideal environment to turn the tables on a raging fire.
B.E. Meyers & Co., Inc., a Defense Technology Manufacturer specializing in advanced photonic solutions for military, law enforcement, consumer and aerospace applications worldwide, is proud to announce Coulson Aviation USA as their first reseller specific to Aerial Firefighting and Wildfire Management. Currently promoting B.E. Meyers & Co.’s IZLID200P series of laser systems for air-to-ground integration in support of communication during aerial wildfire management operations under night vision devices, Coulson Aviation is the first aerial firefighting company to aggressively develop innovative, industry-changing nighttime fire suppression technology and protocols for successful and safe after dark operations.
The B.E. Meyers & Co. IZLID® 200P is a compact, lightweight IR laser for pointing and marking by military forces. Ideal as a command pointer, for target marking and for communication with aircraft, a simple adjustment turns the laser into an IR illuminator for rapid identification with night vision goggles (NVGs) or IR sensors.
Coulson Aviation pioneered nighttime aerial firefighting, leveraging advanced technologies, like the IZLID® 200P, to combat wildfires when conditions are most favorable.
The B.E. Meyers & Co. IZLID® 200P is small enough to fit in the user’s pocket for quick access when needed. It’s powerful enough to call in airstrikes or aim weapons over a range of 39 km. The small size, light weight, but powerful aiming beam combined with the six-degree field of view IR illuminator capability, is routinely used on aircraft-mounted weapons and by pilots to point out or illuminate ground targets from the cockpit.
To properly battle a blaze under the favorable conditions of nighttime darkness, Coulson Aviation crews work in constant communication with ground teams, acting as force multipliers in rapidly changing conditions. Aerial firefighting isn’t just about fighting flames from the sky – it’s about buying time, creating opportunity and standing between disaster and the communities in its path.
Currently Coulson Aviation supports Los Angeles, Orange and Ventura County fire departments with very large helitankers, pilots and support crews as a part of the company’s ongoing partnership with Southern California Edison (SCE) and the Quick Reaction Force (QRF) program. The Coulson QRF is a 24/7/365 aerial task force changing how fires are fought from the air via a combination of speed, power and technology.
Since the release of the IZLID® 200P, B.E. Meyers & Co. has set the standard for high powered Near-Infrared laser pointers and illuminators. The IZLID® series is used in TACP, CCT, JTAC, SOTAC, ANGLICO and JFO applications and for other air-to-ground integration and communication needs. It’s now a widely used product by military, first responders and search and rescue agencies around the world – chosen for its high power, ergonomics and ruggedness.
This strategic partnership between B.E. Meyers & Co., and Coulson Aviation is the next evolution of high-powered, nocturnal aerial firefighter communication and situational awareness. B.E. Meyers & Co.’s revolutionary technologies create a substantial battlefield advantage to help aerial firefighters ensure mission success and bring them home safely.
For more information on the IZLID® 200P and other B.E. Meyers & Co., Inc products, visit bemeyers.com.