EXTRA FIRE-FIGHTING AIRCRAFT FOR SUMMER

The Government has announced more than $7.15 million in additional funding to bolster Victoria’s aerial firefighting fleet and increase the number of aircraft for the upcoming fire season.
46 specialist aircraft will help to support firefighters on-the-ground which is four extra aircraft than the previous fire season.
The additional funding has ensured:

• $6.56 million for two large fixed wing airtankers to be based at Avalon airport, with a carrying capacity of approximately 12,000 and 17,000 litres of foam or retardant;
• A fixed wing aircraft with an on-board air attack supervisor to support the large air tankers; and
• $588,000 for a firebombing helicopter which can carry approximately 1,600 litres of water, to be based in the Latrobe Valley.

Victoria will be the first Australian state to use the two large air tankers, which are some of the biggest firefighting aircraft available, and were most recently used to support firefighters in California.

(Photo: Annie Hallinan)

The aircraft fleet will include:

• 2 large fixed wing airtankers;
• 1 firebombing helicopter to be based in the Latrobe Valley;
• 2 Erickson Aircranes capable of dropping 7,500 litres of water;
• 2 large Sikorsky helicopters capable of dropping 3,500 litres of water or transporting up to 17 firefighters;
• 5 medium sized firebombing helicopters;
• 15 light helicopters;
• 12 single engine airtankers;
• 2 infrared line-scanning fixed wing aircraft;
• 4 fixed wing firespotting aircraft; and
• 1 fixed wing aircraft to support the large air tankers

The specialist aircranes will be available for use from December, with the remaining fleet to arrive later this month.