Firefighting aviation fleet is ready to fly

VICTORIA’S summer aviation fleet was launched last week, marked with a flyover by one of the newest members of the fleet.

Christine, an orange Air-Crane, will join Hercules and Boomer, Victoria’s Large Air Tankers, to supplement the first response aircraft around the state.

The 49-strong fleet includes a mix of water bombing, air supervision and aerial intelligence gathering aircraft. Of these, 27 are helicopters and 22 are fixed wing aircraft.

For the first time Victoria will have two night vision enabled aircraft joining the fleet, which will be based at Ballarat and Mangalore.

Emergency Management Commissioner Andrew Crisp said Victoria was leading the way in aviation innovation with the use of night vision technology for firebombing and air intelligence gathering with aircraft and drones.

“Night firebombing in Victoria will be used as an extension of day operations, meaning aircraft will be able to assist ground crews on fires for longer. It will only be used in the right circumstances and on the right fires.

“The two Large Air Tankers will be available to respond to fires in Victoria from Wednesday. Our Air-Crane Christine will be joined by Delilah, our second Air-Crane in mid-December.”

Victoria is well placed and resourced for what could be a long hot summer. The Bushfire Natural Hazards CRC outlook indicates that Victoria will face an above normal fire season in East Gippsland and a normal fire season across the rest of the state. Supplementing Victoria’s core fleet of 49, Victoria can call on up to 100 other aircraft.

As part of the national aircraft arrangements, Victoria can also access aircraft from other states including NSW and SA-based aircraft when required and likewise, Victoria’s aircraft can operate interstate if it is required.