List and photos of fire fighting aircraft used in the summer fire season (Oct 2022 – April 2023).
BOMBER
Coulson Aviation has been contracted in 2022/23 by the Federal Government to provide two Large Air Tankers (LAT) in Western Australia, based at Busselton Margaret River Airport, 220 kilometres south of Perth. The aircraft may be deployed elsewhere in Australia if required.
Dunn Aviation Australia provides Air Tractor AT-802/AT-802A and AT-602 fixed-wing water bombing aircraft for the Western Australian Government. Its aircraft are also contracted out to other states to perform firebombing and agricultural duties. Based at Jandakot, Albany, Bunbury, Esperance, Manjimup and Northam. BOMBERs are managed by the Western Australian Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA).
Photo to be added soon VH-XWH / BOMBER 619 Air Tractor AT-802 of SEAA Pty Ltd
HELITAK
Fire fighting helicopters operated under management of the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES). Two Sikorsky UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters with 4,500 litres capacity are contracted from United Aero Helicopters, based at Serpentine Airfield. Seven Bell 214 helicopters with 2,700 litres capacity are contracted from McDermott Aviation, five based at Jandakot Airport and two at Busselton Airport.
Air Attack FIREBIRDs coordinate aerial firefighting operations, circling high above firefighting aircraft. FIREBIRD 623, 661, 662 and 663 are managed by the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES). Other FIREBIRDs are managed by Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA).
Beech 200 King Air aircraft fitted with infra red line scanning equipment. Scans fire areas and provides live intelligence, including fire mapping, to ground incident control crews. Scanning is conducted high above the fire area, by flying fixed patterns well above air attack traffic. The line scanner is able to see through smoke and show terrain, streams and roads, to pinpoint fire edges, burnt areas and spot fires. King Air VH-LAB of Air Affairs Australia Pty Ltd performed this role since the 2019/20 fire season.
Fixed-wing aircraft used primarily for air attack supervision. Faster twin-engined BIRDDOGs are used to lead the Large Air Tankers and guide them on where to release their fire retardant.
The Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) 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 DBCA, which holds the Air Operators Certificate (AOC).
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 Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) frequently rotate their Scout fleet around the various bases, so their AIR ATTACK callsigns change, but their SPOTTER callsigns remain unchanged. AIR ATTACK platforms are managed by DBCA.
