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03 May 2010 BUSHFIRE SEASON 2009-2010 COMES TO A CLOSE

The 2009-10 bushfire season is finished for NAFC who boasted their biggest national fleet to date, with 44 aircraft providing 48 services across Australia. With the Western Australian bushfire season coming to a close in mid April, we are in one of the rare months where NAFC has no aircraft in service. Preparations have already begun for the 2010-11 season, which is likely to kick off in August in Queensland.

08 March 2010 AERIAL INTELLIGENCE GATHERING SYSTEMS TRIAL

In the interests of developing improved aerial firefighting capabilities, NAFC and the Country Fire Service (CFS) recently undertook a trial of aerial intelligence gathering systems. The trial, which is part of an ongoing national trial, was undertaken over several prescribed burn operations in South Australia both during the day and at night. It entailed the gathering and transmitting of real-time fire information using both high definition, visual and infrared sensors back to various ground stations. The information was used to gain both a quick, visual overview of the fire scene as well as providing valuable data for processing in CFS’s Geographic Information Systems.

15 December 2009 VERY LARGE AIRTANKER ARRIVES IN VICTORIA

The first very large airtanker to be based in Australia over a bushfire season arrived at Avalon airport yesterday. Victorian Premier John Brumby welcomed the aircraft, stating that Victoria would be the first Australian state to trial the effectiveness of the large waterbombing plane in the firefighting effort.

Leased by the National Aerial Firefighting Centre (NAFC) and funded by the Victorian State Government, the DC-10 will be the largest vehicle ever to be used in aerial firefighting in Australia. The airtanker has the capacity to drop approximately 44,000 litres of water or fire retardant.

NAFC General Manager Richard Alder explained “NAFC and its Member States and Territories have been following the development of Very Large Airtankers since they were first mooted, sending people overseas to examine their operation in detail.”

Based in Victoria at Avalon airport for a minimum service period of ten weeks, the VLAT will be rigorously trialed for capability. During the trial the aircraft will be used in actual fire fighting, provided it is safe and appropriate to the particular situation. Emergency Services Minister Bob Cameron joined the Premier and plane crew and Department of Sustainability and Environment and Country Fire Authority chiefs on a tour of the vehicle.

“Firefighting aircraft are one of our key weapons against bushfires. They can drop large amounts of water, suppressant foam and fire retardant to help control fires in hard-to-reach locations”, Mr Cameron explained.

Federal Attorney-General Robert McClelland welcomed the Victorian trial. “The Rudd Government is pleased to support Australia’s first trial of the very large aircraft, with the National Aerial Firefighting Centre to contribute $500,000 towards the review of its effectiveness in fighting fires in Australian terrain,” Mr McClelland said.

20 November 2009 VICTORIA ANNOUNCE VLAT TRIAL FOR 2009-10

On Monday 9th of November the Victorian Police and Emergency Services Minister Bob Cameron announced that the National Aerial Firefighting Centre (NAFC) will procure Australia’s first Very Large Air Tanker (VLAT) to be based in Victoria. With the capacity to drop between 40,000-70,000 litres of water or fuel retardant ─ up to eight times the amount of the high-volume helicopters such as Elvis, VLATS are the largest vehicle class ever to be involved in aerial firefighting in Australia. The VLAT will be rigorously trialed for capability.

NAFC and its Member States and Territories have been following the development of Very Large Air Tankers since they were first mooted, sending people overseas to examine their operation in detail.

It is anticipated that the aircraft will arrive in Victoria in December or January. During the trial the aircraft will be used in actual firefighting, provided it is safe and appropriate to the particular situation.

NAFC with the support of the Federal, States and Territory governments has facilitated the procurement of over forty highly specialised firefighting aircraft around the country during 2009-2010. This Very Large Air Tanker will be in addition to an already capable national fleet.