A list of the fire fighting aircraft in Western Australia for the 2016-2017 summer fire season (Oct 2016 – April 2017).
AIR ATTACK
Air Attack call signs are fire agency designations for air attack supervisor platforms, and the call signs remain unchanged regardless of whether the actual airframe is changed. The Department of Parks and Wildlife frequently rotate their Scout fleet around the various bases, so their AIR ATTACK callsigns change, but their SPOTTER callsigns remain unchanged. AIR ATTACK platforms (except FIREBIRD 623 / VH-YUQ) are managed by Department of Parks and Wildlife.
AIR ATTACK 1 / FIREBIRD 620 / VH-EGU Eurocopter AS350B2 Squirrel Soloy SD2 – Helicopter Logistics – Based at Jandakot.
AIR ATTACK 2 – Scout (rotated). Based at Bunbury.
AIR ATTACK 3 – Scout (rotated). Based at Manjimup.
AIR ATTACK 4 – Scout (rotated). Based at Albany.
AIR ATTACK 5 / FIREBIRD 623 / VH-YUQ Eurocopter AS355F1 Twin Squirrel – McDermott Aviation – Based at Jandakot.
AIR ATTACK 6 – Scout (rotated). Based at Jandakot
BIRDDOG
Fixed-wing aircraft used primarily for air attack supervision.
BOMBER
Dunn Aviation Australia provides fixed-wing water bombing aircraft for the WA Government – the Air Tractor AT-802 and AT-602 for water and fire retardant dropping. Its aircraft are also contracted out to other states to perform firebombing and agricultural duties. Based at Jandakot, Bunbury, Manjimup, Albany. BOMBERs are managed by Department of Parks and Wildlife.
FIREBIRD
The Air Attack FIREBIRDS coordinate aerial firefighting operations, and can usually be seen circling high above firefighting aircraft. The Air Intelligience FIREBIRD 625 is an fire information resource for incident managers on the ground. FIREBIRD 623/VH-YUQ and FIREBIRD 625/VH-XRG are managed by Department of Fire and Emergency Services. Other FIREBIRDS are managed by Department of Parks and Wildlife.
HELITACK
Medium (Bell 214) and heavy (Skycrane) fire fighting helicopters are operated for the Department of Fire and Emergency Services for the fire season (October – April). Four Bell 214 helicopters are based at Jandakot and two are based at Busselton. The Sikorsky S-64E Skycrane is based at Serpentine Airfield, south of Perth.
SPOTTER
Department of Parks and Wildlife uses American Champion 8GCBC Scouts as fire spotter aircraft for forest patrols in the south-west of WA, flying across areas set according to fire weather conditions. They fly more during the hotter months (about 3,500 hours) due to the increased fire risk. They also supervise waterbombing operations in the south-west, relaying information on fire behaviour to fire controllers. Aircraft rotate around bases at Jandakot, Bunbury, Dwellingup and Manjimup. SPOTTERS are managed by Department of Parks and Wildlife, which holds an Air Operators Certificate (AOC).
Firefighting Aircraft Callsigns and Registrations
Grey text callsign/registration combinations not yet confirmed.
BOMBER 601 / VH-DUQ
Air Tractor AT-802
Dunn Aviation
‘Ballidu’.
BOMBER 602 / VH-EOG
Air Tractor AT-802
Dunn Aviation
‘Tumblin Dice’.
BOMBER 603 / VH-NIN
Air Tractor AT-802A
Dunn Aviation
BOMBER 604 / VH-DUN
Air Tractor AT-802A
Dunn Aviation
‘Ian Leslie’.
BOMBER 605 / VH-FED
Air Tractor AT-802
Dunn Aviation
‘Big Block’. Based at Jandakot
BOMBER 606 / VH-NIY
Air Tractor AT-802A
Dunn Aviation
‘Forever Young’.
BOMBER 607 / VH-DUJ
Air Tractor AT-802
Dunn Aviation
BOMBER 608 / VH-DUA
Air Tractor AT-802
Dunn Aviation
‘Magic’
BOMBER 609 / VH-DUW
Air Tractor AT-802A
Dunn Aviation
BOMBER 610 / VH-JID
Air Tractor AT-802
Dunn Aviation
‘Chop’
BOMBER 611 / VH-NIP
Air Tractor AT-802A
Dunn Aviation
BOMBER 612 / VH-NID
Air Tractor AT-802A
Dunn Aviation
‘The Boss’
BOMBER 614 / VH-FEC
Air Tractor AT-504
Dunn Aviation
‘Blacky’. Used as firefighting training aircraft, has two side-by-side seats.
FIREBIRD 620 / VH-EGU
Eurocopter AS350B2 Squirrel Soloy SD2
Helicopter Logistics
Based at Jandakot. Also uses callsign ‘AIR ATTACK 1′
FIREBIRD 621 / VH-LGG
Eurocopter AS350B2 Squirrel Soloy SD2
Helicopter Logistics
Based at Jandakot.
FIREBIRD 622 / VH-JTQ
Eurocopter AS350BA Squirrel
Helicopter Logistics
Based at Jandakot
FIREBIRD 623 / VH-YUQ
Eurocopter AS355F1 Twin Squirrel
McDermott Aviation
Based at Jandakot. Also uses callsign ‘AIR ATTACK 5′
FIREBIRD 624 / VH-JRI
Bell 206B JetRanger III
Helicopter Logistics
Based at Jandakot
FIREBIRD 625 / VH-XRG
Eurocopter Bo-105LS-A3
Heliwest
Based at Jandakot. AIR INTEL. Wescam MX-15i high definition FLIR turret, laser mapper, microwave transmitter
SPOTTER 640 / VH-LKQ
American Champion 8GCBC Scout
Dept of Parks and Wildlife
Base rotated between Bunbury/Jandakot/Manjimup/Albany
SPOTTER 641 / VH-DXZ
American Champion 8GCBC Scout
Dept of Parks and Wildlife
Base rotated between Bunbury/Jandakot/Manjimup/Albany
SPOTTER 642 / VH-KTG
American Champion 8GCBC Scout
Dept of Parks and Wildlife
Base rotated between Bunbury/Jandakot/Manjimup/Albany
SPOTTER 643 / VH-DXM
American Champion 8GCBC Scout
Dept of Parks and Wildlife
Base rotated between Bunbury/Jandakot/Manjimup/Albany
SPOTTER 644 / VH-PWL
American Champion 8GCBC Scout
Dept of Parks and Wildlife
Base rotated between Bunbury/Jandakot/Manjimup/Albany
SPOTTER 645 / VH-KYH
American Champion 8GCBC Scout
Dept of Parks and Wildlife
Base rotated between Bunbury/Jandakot/Manjimup/Albany
SPOTTER 646 / VH-DXL
American Champion 8GCBC Scout
Dept of Parks and Wildlife
Base rotated between Bunbury/Jandakot/Manjimup/Albany
SPOTTER 647 / VH-LKV
American Champion 8GCBC Scout
Dept of Parks and Wildlife
Base rotated between Bunbury/Jandakot/Manjimup/Albany
SPOTTER 648 / VH-KUE
American Champion 8GCBC Scout
Dept of Parks and Wildlife
Base rotated between Bunbury/Jandakot/Manjimup/Albany
SPOTTER 649 / VH-DXU
American Champion 8GCBC Scout
Dept of Parks and Wildlife
Base rotated between Bunbury/Jandakot/Manjimup/Albany
HELITAC 418 / VH-SMI
Bell 214B1
McDermott Aviation
Based at Jandakot.NSW Rural Fire Service titles.
HELITAC 671 / P2-MBH
Bell 214B
McDermott Aviation
Based at Jandakot. Australian flag on tailboom
HELITAC 672 / N49732
Bell 214B1
McDermott Aviation
Based at Jandakot
HELITAC 673 / N234PH
Bell 214B1
McDermott Aviation
Based at Jandakot
HELITAC 674 / P2-MLJ
Bell 214B
McDermott Aviation
Based at Jandakot
HELITAC 676 / P2-MSA
Bell 214B1
McDermott Aviation
Based at Busselton
HELITAC 677 / C-FXNI
Bell 214B1
McDermott Aviation
Based at Busselton. White/Gunmetal/Red livery, with maple leaf.