15 October 2023 © David Eyre and Brenden Scott
List and photos of fire fighting aircraft used in the summer fire season.
BOMBER
Coulson Aviation has been contracted again in 2023/24 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).
N132CG/BOMBER 132 Lockheed C-130H Hercules (MSN 382-4338) of Coulson Aviation, at Busselton Airport – 18 February 2021. Based at Busselton under contract to the Western Australian Department of Fire and Emergency Services. Carries 15,000 Litres of fire retardant foam or water and is seen here at 4:17pm, performing one of its weekly test drops. Built in 1969, previously serial number 956 of the Royal Norwegian Air Force. Photo © Jarrod Swanwick. N132CG flew Busselton to Perth for maintenance on 15 November 2023, but unfortunately fell off the jacks and was damaged. Repaired and flew to Busselton on 6 December 2023.
N137CG/BOMBER 137 Boeing 737-3H4 Fireliner (MSN 27700/2759) of the New South Wales Rural Fire Service, operated by Coulson Aviation, named ‘Gaia’, over the northern suburbs of Perth, Western Australia – 4 February 2021. It can carry can carry 15,150 litres of fire retardant, while carrying 72 passengers or firefighters. The aircraft temporarily redeployed from RAAF Base Richmond to RAAF Pearce on 21 December 2023. Built in 1995, ex N617SW of Southwest Airlines. Photo © David Eyre. N140CG / BOMBER 133 Lockheed C-130H Hercules of Coulson Aviation, at Busselton Airport – 28 November 2023. Photo © Jarrod Swanwick. N140CG was just converted for firefighting, arrived in Australia on 27 November 2023. On 28 November, it flew Richmond – Busselton. Did a test drop on 1 Dec 2023, then returned to Richmond on 7 December 2023. C-GVFK / BOMBER 164 British Aerospace Avro RJ85 of Conair, at Busselton Airport – 22 November 2023. Photo © Jarrod Swanwick. C-GVFK arrived at Busselton on 21 November 2023 from Dubbo via Ayers Rock, due to the damage to N132CG. C-GVFK fought a fire at Jandabup / Mariginiup on 22 November 2023, then another fire at Fitzgerald River National Park near Hopetoun on 28 November. It returned to Dubbo via Esperance and Adelaide on 1 December 2023. N138CG / BOMBER 210 Boeing 737-3H4 Fireliner of New South Wales Rural Fire Service (Coulson Aviation), at Busselton Airport – 8 November 2023. Photo © Jarrod Swanwick. N138CG arrived at Busselton from RAAF Richmond on 8 November 2023 and departed back to RAAF Richmond on 9 November 2023. N138CG flew RAAF Richmond to RAAF Pearce on 14 January 2024. It worked a fire near Gin Gin before moving to Busselton on 17 January 2024. N138CG departed back to RAAF Richmond on 18 January 2024. VH-LIS / BOMBER 227 Air Tractor AT-802 of Pays Air Service, at Jandakot Airport – 19 January 2024. Photo © Jarrod Swanwick. VH-LIS arrived at Jandakot on 17 January 2024 from Scone via Kalgoorlie. It worked a number of fires before returning to Scone via Broken Hill on 26 January 2024. VH-DUQ / BOMBER 601 Air Tractor AT-802 (MSN 802-0241) of Dunn Aviation, named ‘Ballidu’, at Albany Airport – Thu 3 March 2016. VH-FGO / BOMBER 602 Air Tractor AT-802A of Dunn Aviation, named ‘Milana’, at Northam Airport, Western Australia – 30 November 2021. VH-PEK / BOMBER 603 Air Tractor AT-802A of Dunn Aviation, at Jandakot Airport, Western Australia – 12 December 2021. Photo © David Eyre. VH-DUN / BOMBER 604 Air Tractor AT-802A owned by Dunn Aviation, named ‘Ian Leslie’, at Jandakot Airport, Western Australia – 10 December 2022.
On contract to the Western Australian Government during the summer months as a fire fighting aircraft.
MSN 802A-0328, built in 2010, ex N8521E.
Photo © David Eyre VH-FED / BOMBER 605 Air Tractor AT-802 of Dunn Aviation, named ‘Big Block’, at Margaret River Airport, Western Australia – 8 December 2021. Photo © Jarrod Swanwick. VH-FCO / BOMBER 606 Air Tractor AT-802A of Dunn Aviation, at Jandakot Airport, Western Australia – 12 December 2021. VH-DUJ / BOMBER 607 Air Tractor AT-802 owned by Dunn Aviation, at Busselton Airport, Western Australia – 8 December 2021. VH-DUA / BOMBER 608 Air Tractor AT802 owned by Dunn Aviation, named ‘Black Magic’, at Jandakot Airport, Western Australia – 10 December 2022.
MSN 802-0366, built in 2010, ex N8521E, EC-LHZ. Operated for the Western Australian Government on fire fighting duties during the summer months.
Photo © David Eyre VH-DUW / BOMBER 609 Air Tractor AT-802A of Dunn Aviation, at Jandakot Airport, Western Australia – 31 December 2020. VH-JID / BOMBER 610 Air Tractor AT-802 owned by Dunn Aviation, named ‘Chop’, at Jandakot Airport – Fri 28 October 2016. VH-RIM / BOMBER 611 Air Tractor AT-802A of Dunn Aviation at Jandakot Airport, Western Australia – 9th January 2022. Photo © Jarrod Swanwick VH-NID / BOMBER 612 Air Tractor AT-802A of Dunn Aviation, named ‘Milana’, at Northam Airport, Western Australia – 30 November 2021. VH-8DA / BOMBER 614 Air Tractor AT-802A of Dunn Aviation at Jandakot Airport – 13th January 2023. Photo © Jarrod Swanwick. VH-8DB / BOMBER 615 Air Tractor AT-802A of Dunn Aviation, at Jandakot Airport – 19 January 2024. Photo © Jarrod Swanwick. VH-XWH / BOMBER 619 Air Tractor AT-802 of SEAA Pty Ltd, at Jandakot Airport – 19 January 2024. Photo © Jarrod Swanwick. 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.
N1073W/HELITAK 671 Bell 214B-1 BigLifter of McDermott Aviation, at Warradale Park, Landsdale, Western Australia – 29 January 2022.
Drawing water from the lake, while fighting a bushfire to the west of Tonkin Highway in Bullsbrook.
Operated on firefighting duties in the summer fire season, for the Western Australian Government under the Department of Fire and Emergency Services. Fitted with a 2,700-Litre Isolair ‘Tsunami’ belly tank.
Photo © David Eyre. N254SM / HELITAK 672 Bell 214B-1 BigLifter of McDermott Aviation, at Bunbury Airport – 1 November 2023. Photo © Jarrod Swanwick. N214LJ/HELITAK 673 Bell 214B-1 BigLifter of McDermott Aviation, at Warradale Park, Landsdale, Western Australia – 29 January 2022.
Drawing water from the lake, while fighting a bushfire to the west of Tonkin Highway in Bullsbrook.
Operated on firefighting duties in the summer fire season, for the Western Australian Government under the Department of Fire and Emergency Services. Fitted with a 2,700-Litre Isolair ‘Tsunami’ belly tank.
Photo © David Eyre. N49732 / HELITAK 674 Bell 214B-1 BigLifter of McDermott Aviation, fighting a fire at Aubin Grove, Perth, Western Australia – 12 January 2021. Photo © Jayden Hills. N281JL / HELITAK 676 Bell 214B-1 BigLifter of McDermott Aviation at VC Mitchell Park, Donnybrook, Western Australia – 11th January 2023. Photo © Jarrod Swanwick N214HM / HELITAK 677 Bell 214B-1 BigLifter of McDermott Aviation, at Busselton Airport – 22 November 2023. Photo © Jarrod Swanwick. N260UH/HELITACK 678 Sikorsky UH-60A Black Hawk of Pickering Aviation Inc, (Denton, Texas), at Lake Goollelal, Kingsley, Western Australia – 23 January 2022.
Drawing water from the lake while fighting a bushfire at Warwick Open Space. Operated on firefighting duties for the Western Australian Government/Department of Fire and Emergency Services for the summer fire season. Fitted with a 4,500-Litre Helitak Fire Tank FT4500 and Helitak HP-6000 Hoverpump, which pumps 6,000 litres per minute, filling the tank in less than 50 seconds.
MSN 70664 built in 1984, ex United States Army serial 83-23840. Previously used in Iraq in 2010/11, later as a medevac helicopter with 2nd Battalion, 135th Aviation Regiment, Colorado Army National Guard, based at Buckley Air Force Base, Colorado, USA, then with the Pennsylvania Army National Guard. It then went to Huntsville, Alabama on 25 January 2021 and was advertised for sale by GSA Auctions at Huntsville, Alabama on 10 February 2021. Registered on civil register as N260UH with Pickering Aviation Inc of Denton, Texas on October 29, 2021.
Shipped to Sydney and flown from Camden, NSW to Serpentine, Western Australia on 12 January 2022. Based at Serpentine until April 2022.
Photo © David Eyre. N360UH / HELITAK 679 Sikorsky UH-60A Blackhawk of United Aero Helicopters at Boyanup Oval, Western Australia – 11th January 2023. Photo © Jarrod Swanwick FIREBIRD
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).
VH-EGU / FIREBIRD 620 Eurocopter AS350B2 Squirrel Soloy SD2 of Helicopter Logistics at Busselton Airport, Western Australia – 13th December 2022. Photo © Jarrod Swanwick VH-YUQ / FIREBIRD 623 Eurocopter AS355F-1 Twin Squirrel owned by McDermott Aviation, at Warradale Park, Landsdale – 9 November 2020. Assisting firefighters in fighting a bushfire at Joyce Road, Gnangara. Photo © David Eyre. VH-VVX/FIREBIRD 628 Eurocopter AS350B2 Soloy SD2 Squirrel of Helicopter Logistics Pty Ltd, at Jandakot Airport, Western Australia – 21 May 2022.
This has been converted to a Soloy SD2 version, with a Honeywell (Lycoming) LTS101-700D-2 engine.
MSN 2896, built in 1995, ex C-GMNI, N703LV, XA-AUR.
Photo © David Eyre. N82MD / FIREBIRD 661 / AIR ATTACK 7 Eurocopter AS 365N3 Dauphin 2 of McDermott Aviation Australia, at Warradale Park, Landsdale, Western Australia – 1 December 2021. This helicopter acts as a tactical Aerial Intelligence Surveillance & Reconnaissance Remote Sensing (AISR) and is equipped with Forward Looking Infra Red (FLIR) turret and Fire/Flood Mapping Datalink / Video equipment. Loudspeakers fitted to the left side. N97MD / FIREBIRD 662 Eurocopter AS365 N3 Dauphin 2 (MSN 6330) of McDermott Aviation, at Jandakot Airport, Western Australia – 10 December 2022.
Operates under contract to the Western Australian Government during the fire season (November – April), to coordinate aerial firefighting operations. It can usually be seen circling high above firefighting aircraft.
Built in 1989 as an AS365 N1 and later converted to an AS365 N3. Previously operated by the Maryland State Police.
Photo © David Eyre. N38MD / Firebird 663 Eurocopter AS365 N1 Dauphin 2 of McDermott Aviation, at Jandakot Airport – 18 May 2023. Photo © Jarrod Swanwick. FIRESCAN
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.
VH-LAB/FIRESCAN 125 Beech B200T Super King Air owned by Air Affairs Aviation, at Jandakot Airport, Western Australia – 12 December 2021. Photo © David Eyre. VH-VJT / FIRESCAN 200 Cessna 560 Citation V of New South Wales Rural Fire Service, at Busselton Airport 18 January 2024. Photo © Jarrod Swanwick. VH-VJO / FIRESCAN 201 / BIRDDOG 201 Cessna 560 Citation V of NSW Rural Fire Service (operated by Coulson Aviation) and N138CG/BOMBER 210 Boeing 737-3H4 Fireliner of the New South Wales Rural Fire Service, operated by Coulson Aviation, named ‘Marie Bashir’, at Geraldton Airport, Western Australia – 19 January 2022.
N138CG arrived on 16 January from RAAF Base Richmond, NSW, to assist with fighting a large bushfire near Gascoyne Junction. It can carry can carry 15,150 litres of fire retardant, while carrying 72 passengers or firefighters.
MSN 27928/2742, built in 1995, ex N608SW of Southwest Airlines.
VH-VJO is used to lead the large air tanker to drop fire retardant on fires. Arrived at Geraldton to assist with fighting a large bushfire near Gascoyne Junction. MSN 560-0232, built in 1993, ex N561CG, C-GJYL, N502E, (N12879).
Photo © David Eyre. On 5 November 2023, VH-VJO flew Richmond – Ceduna – Busselton, and worked a few fires in WA, also operating from Esperance and Geraldton. Returned from Busselton – Ceduna – Moruya – Richmond on 17 November 2023.
BIRDDOG
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.
VH-RMB/BIRDDOG 123 Cessna 525 CitationJet CJ1 (MSN 525-0514) of Agair Logistics Pty Ltd, Stawell, Victoria, at Busselton Airport – 6 February 2021. Flew RAAF Richmond – Ceduna – RAAF Pearce on 21 Dec 2023. Photo © Jarrod Swanwick. VH-LCL / BIRDDOG 273 Cessna 525 CitationJet CJ1 of Agair Logistics, at Busselton Airport – 22 November 2023. Photo © Jarrod Swanwick. VH-LCL arrived at Busselton on 21 November 2023 from Richmond via Ceduna. Took part in firefighting at Jandabup / Mariginiup on 22 November and another fire at Fitzgerald River National Park near Hopetoun on 28 November. Returned to Dubbo via Cedua and Adelaide on 1 December 2023. VH-ATF / BIRDDOG 376 Rockwell 690A Turbo Commander of GAM Group (General Aviation Maintenance Pty Ltd), at Busselton Airport – 20 January 2024. Photo © Jarrod Swanwick. Flew Essendon – Ceduna – Busselton on 29 November 2023 and has been operating from Busselton. VH-CGX / Birddog 681 Quest Aircraft Kodiak 100 of Helicopter Logistics at Bunbury Airport, Western Australia – 27th November 2022. Photo © Jarrod Swanwick VH-CSA/BIRDDOG 684 Cessna R182 Skylane RG II of Aviation Utilities Pty Ltd, Camden, NSW, at Jandakot Airport – 15 September 2018. VH-MXL / BIRDDOG 686 Cessna R182 Skylane RG of United Aero Helicopters (Aviation Utlilites Pty Ltd), at Bunbury Airport – 21 November 2023. Photo © Jarrod Swanwick. SPOTTER
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).
VH-PWC / SPOTTER 640 American Champion 8GCBC Scout of the Parks and Wildlife Service, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, at Bunbury Airport – 20 January 2024. Photo © Jarrod Swanwick. VH-PWY / SPOTTER 641 American Champion 8GCBC Scout of the Parks and Wildlife Service, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, at Jandakot Airport, Western Australia – 16 November 2021. Photo © Jarrod Swanwick. VH-KTG / SPOTTER 642 American Champion 8GCBC Scout of the Parks and Wildlife Service, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, at Busselton Airport, Western Australia – 8 December 2021. Photo © Jarrod Swanwick. VH-BPW / SPOTTER 643 American Champion 8GCBC Scout of the Parks and Wildlife Service, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, at Bunbury Airport – 25 January 2020. Photo © Jarrod Swanwick. VH-PWL / SPOTTER 644 American Champion 8GCBC Scout operated by the Parks and Wildlife Service, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, at Jandakot Airport – Fri 28 October 2016. Photo © David Eyre VH-KYH / SPOTTER 645 American Champion 8GCBC Scout of the Parks and Wildlife Service, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, at Jandakot Airport – Thu 26 January 2017. Photo © David Eyre VH-VPW / SPOTTER 646 American Champion 8GCBC Scout of the Parks and Wildlife Service, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, at Jandakot Airport – 7 December 2019. Photo © David Eyre. VH-SYB / SPOTTER 647 American Champion 8GCBC Scout of the Parks and Wildlife Service, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions at Manjimup Airport – 12th January 2023. Photo © Jarrod Swanwick VH-KUE / SPOTTER 648 American Champion 8GCBC Scout of the Parks and Wildlife Service, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, at Jandakot Airport – 1 February 2020. Photo © David Eyre. VH-UNT / SPOTTER 649 American Champion 8GCBC Scout of the Parks and Wildlife Service, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, at Jandakot Airport. 6 October 2023. Photo © Jarrod Swanwick. 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 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.
