Respond to IncidentsResponse TypesCoverage AreasWorking with OthersAircraftFarm Fire UnitsAIIMSStatistics
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Aircraft Operations
Using Aerial Support
During the Fire Danger Season, the CFS establish an Air Operations section to observe and assist with the suppression of fires. This fire season, a number of aircraft have been contracted to assist. The duties will include fire bombing, transportation of crews and equipment and aerial surveillance. The CFS have members in the surveillance aircraft to assist with fire spotting duties, and providing intelligence reports to the Incident Controller.
The list below indicates the type of aircraft available for this fire season, its role, water capacity and callsign along with the airbase it may operate from.
| Type of Aircraft | Water capacity | Callsign | Base Location | Registration |
Fire Bombing Duties |
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| Fixed Wing Air Tractor 802A | 3100 litre tank | Bomber 580 | Port Lincoln AP | VH-OUB |
| Bomber 581 | Port Lincoln AP | VH-OUF | ||
| Bomber 582 | Port Lincoln AP | VH-OUG | ||
| Bomber 583 | Mount Gambier AP | VH-ODW | ||
| Bomber 584 | Mount Gambier AP | VH-ODV | ||
| Bomber 585 | Mount Gambier AP | VH-ODX | ||
| Bomber 586 | Hoyleton AB | VH-8XO | ||
| Bomber 587 | Hoyleton AB | VH-8FR | ||
| Bomber 588 | Hoyleton AB | VH-8KB | ||
| Bomber 589 | Claremont AB | VH-OUC | ||
| Bomber 590 | Claremont AB | VH-OUE | ||
| Bomber 591 | Claremont AB | VH-OUJ | ||
| Bomber 592 | Claremont AB | VH-OUN | ||
| Bomber 593 | Claremont AB | VH-8SM | ||
| Bomber 594 | Claremont AB | VH-ODH | ||
| Bomber 595 | Claremont AB | VH-OUM | ||
| Bomber 596 | Parafield AB | VH-ODZ | ||
| Bomber 597 | Parafield AB | VH-XPB | ||
| Bomber 598 | Parafield AB | VH-ODP | ||
| High Volume Helicopter SIKORSKY UH-60A+ and UH-60L (Black Hawk) |
4500 litre tank | Helitak 513 | Claremont AB | VH-UHS |
| Helitak 514 | Claremont AB | VH-UHG | ||
| Helitak 515 | Mount Gambier AP | VH-UHR | ||
| Helitak 516 | Port Lincoln AP | VH-8UH | ||
| Helitak 518 | Parafield AB | VH-8UL | ||
Fire Aerial Surveillance / Intelligence and Transportation Duties |
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| Fixed Wing Cessna 208B | Birddog 500 | Claremont AB | VH-ODU | |
| Firespotter 555 | Claremont AB | VH-TWX | ||
| Eurocopter EC130 B4 | Firebird 501 | Claremont AB | VH-HQL | |
| Eurocopter EC135 P2+ | Firebird 502 | Claremont AB | VH-HCZ | |
| Eurocopter AS350 B2/B3/BA/SD Ecureuil (Squirrel) | Firebird 503 | Claremont AB | VH-HBB | |
| Firebird 504 | Hoyleton AB | VH-HRG | ||
| Firebird 505 | Mt Gambier AP | VH-VLU | ||
| Firebird 506 | Port Lincoln AP | VH-TMY | ||
| Firebird 508 | Hoyleton AB | VH-HQO | ||
| Firebird 510 | Mt Gambier AP | VH-FMF | ||
| Firebird 511 | Parafield AB | VH-SHD | ||
| Firebird 512 | Port Lincoln AP | VH-TVG | ||
| Firebird 517 | Mt Gambier AP | VH-XIP | ||
Fixed wing Air Tractors are supplied and operated by Aerotech, and as from December 2016, operate from the Claremont Air Base at Brukunga, as well as utilising Hoyleton, Cummins, Tintinara and Arthurton Air Bases.
Airbases which are activated for bomber refill and refueling during incidents can also be found at Coonawarra, Cherry Gardens and Gawler as well as many others dotted around the State.
The State Air Desk, located within the Emergency Services Headquarters building in Keswick manages the dispatch and coordination of aircraft around the State. They operate during daylight hours and monitor incidents in the three primary bomber response zones, and dispatch resources as required.
Aerial Firefighting resources for the CFS are Coordinated by the National Aerial Firefighting Centre (NAFC), which was formed by the Australian States and Territories in July 2003 to provide a cooperative national arrangement for combating bushfires. It achieves this by facilitating the coordination and procurement of a fleet of highly specialised firefighting aircraft that are readily available for use by State and Territory emergency service and land management agencies across Australia.
This national aircraft fleet compliments aerial firefighting resources that are arranged directly by the States and Territories. The National Fleet receives funding support from the Australian Government as well as State and Territory Governments. http://www.nafc.org.au
| Specifications: Air Tractor Inc, AT-802A | ||
| Aircraft Make | Air Tractor INC | |
| Aircraft Type | AT802 | |
| Aircraft Model | AT-802A | |
| Manufactured | Texas, United States of America | |
| Aircraft Operational Information | ||
| MTOW | 7257 Kg Airframe | |
| Type | Power Driven Aeroplane | |
| Landing Gear Type | Tail Wheel - Fixed | |
| Aircraft Engine Information | ||
| Engine Make | Pratt & Whitney Canada | |
| Engine Model | PT6A-65AG | |
| Engine Type | Turboprop Propellor | |
| Propeller Make | HC-B5MP-3C | |
| Propellor Model | Hartzel Propellers | |
| Fuel Type | JET-A1 | |
| Number of Engines | 1 | |
| Air Tractor 802A Dimensional Drawing (pdf) | ||
| Specifications: Sikorsky UH-60A+ Blackhawk | ||
| Aircraft Make | Sikorsky | |
| Aircraft Type | UH-60A+ | |
| Aircraft Model | UH-60A+ | |
| Manufactured | United States of America | |
| Aircraft Operational Information | ||
| MTOW | 10,000 KG | |
| Airframe Type | Rotorcraft | |
| Landing Gear Type | Tail Wheel - Fixed | |
| Aircraft Engine Information | ||
| Engine Make | General Electric Company | |
| Engine Model | T700-GE-701D/CC | |
| Engine Type | Turboshaft | |
| Fuel Type | Kerosene | |
| Number of Engines | 2 | |
| Helitak Firefighting Equipment - FireTank FT-4500 (pdf) | ||
| Specifications: Cessna 208B | ||
| Aircraft Make | Cessna Aircraft Company | |
| Aircraft Type | 208B | |
| Aircraft Model | 208B | |
| Manufactured | United States of America | |
| Aircraft Operational Information | ||
| MTOW | 3,969 KG | |
| Airframe Type | Power Driven Aeroplane | |
| Landing Gear Type | Tricycle - Fixed | |
| Aircraft Engine Information | ||
| Engine Make | Pratt & Whitney | |
| Engine Model | PT6A-114A | |
| Engine Type | Turboshaft Propellor | |
| Fuel Type | JET-A1 | |
| Number of Engines | 1 | |
| Specifications: Eurocopter EC 130 | ||
| Aircraft Make | Eurocopter | |
| Aircraft Type | Eurocopter EC 130 | |
| Aircraft Model | EC 130 B4 | |
| Manufactured | France | |
| Aircraft Operational Information | ||
| MTOW | 2,430 KG | |
| Airframe Type | Rotorcraft | |
| Landing Gear Type | Skid | |
| Aircraft Engine Information | ||
| Engine Make | Turbomeca Engines | |
| Engine Model | Arriel 2B1 | |
| Engine Type | Turboshaft | |
| Fuel Type | JET-A1 | |
| Number of Engines | 1 | |
Photographer - Cameron Roberts
| Specifications: Eurocopter EC 135 P2+ | ||
| Aircraft Make | Eurocopter | |
| Aircraft Type | Eurocopter 135 | |
| Aircraft Model | EC 135 P2+ | |
| Manufactured | Germany | |
| Aircraft Operational Information | ||
| MTOW | 2,950 KG | |
| Airframe Type | Rotorcraft | |
| Landing Gear Type | Skid | |
| Aircraft Engine Information | ||
| Engine Make | Pratt and Whitney Aircraft | |
| Engine Model | PW206B2 | |
| Engine Type | Turboshaft | |
| Fuel Type | Kerosene | |
| Number of Engines | 2 | |
| Specifications: Eurocopter AS 350 Ecureuil | ||
| Aircraft Make | Aerospatiale Industries | |
| Aircraft Type | Eurocopter AS 350 Ecureuil | |
| Aircraft Model | AS 350BA | |
| Manufactured | France | |
| Aircraft Operational Information | ||
| MTOW | 2,250 KG | |
| Airframe Type | Rotorcraft | |
| Landing Gear Type | Skid | |
| Aircraft Engine Information | ||
| Engine Make | Turbomeca Engines | |
| Engine Model | Arriel 18 | |
| Engine Type | Turboshaft | |
| Fuel Type | JET-A1 | |
| Number of Engines | 1 | |
Information sourced courtesy of the CFS. Photos taken by Robin Geytenbeek, Cameron Roberts and the CFS Promotions Unit. Aircraft information from www.regosearch.com and the CASA website. These links will take you to a new page.