Aerial firefighting

Bushfires NT is a member of the National Council for Fire and Emergency Services (AFAC).

They utilise aerial services under the National Aerial Firefighting Centre (NAFC) in wildfire suppression.

Their aerial firefighting fleet includes fixed wing and rotary wing aircraft. Extra aircraft are available when required.

Rotary and fixed wing aircraft

Bushfires NT utilise rotary and fixed wing aircraft for a range of activities.

Intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance

Used to help gather bushfire information for incident management teams to:

• plan
• develop public safety information with the air observer
• provide live pictures to incident controller to provide up-to-date accurate intelligence to ground crews.

Supervision and command

Coordination and control of firebombing aircraft to implement strategies and tactics to reduce a bushfire's intensity and monitor their effectiveness.

Firebombing

Aerial delivery of water and aerial firefighting products to reduce a bushfire's intensity or slow its spread to support ground firefighting operations.

Aerial ignition

Ignition of vegetation fuels to help back-burning or burning out operations by dropping incendiary devices or materials from an aircraft.

Aviation fleet

Bushfires NT does not own any of the aerial firefighting fleet.

They're contracted through the National Aerial Firefighter Centre (NAFC) during the Top End's fire danger period.

Single engine air tankers (SEATs) - Air Tractor AT-802

Our firebombing aircraft fleet includes the use of SEATs Air Tractor AT-802.

These SEATs allow for the quick dispatch of aircraft from either the Batchelor or Hughes Airstrip. They can be utilised for:

• direct attack/offensive firefighting strategies
• defensive strategies with retardant.
• These fixed wing aircraft are considered most suitable for Territory requirements because they are relatively small, agile and suited to the fire behaviour experienced in the Territory's landscape.

Surveillance aircraft

These aircraft are used to support the:

• supervision and command of wildfires
• the collection of data through intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance.

These aerial platforms are crucial in the successful use of firebombing aircraft and incident management planning.

The role of surveillance aircraft is supported by contracted personnel or Bushfires NT staff members who perform the roles of air attack supervisor and air observer.

Air attack supervisor

This role is highly specialised with trained personnel responsible for:

• specialised aviation advice at the incident
• ensure the safe and efficient coordination of firebombing and tactical aircraft activity.

Air observer

They are responsible for collecting and obtaining accurate intelligence information of fire activity and fire control progress from an aircraft.

Firefighting foams and retardants

Aerial application of aerial firefighting products, such as foam suppressants and long term retardants are used primarily:

• as a suppressant directly onto the fire
• to create ‘wet line’ breaks for indirect firefighting.

Bushfires NT use aerial firefighting products that are compliant with the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service, Specification for Fire Suppressant Foam for Wildland Firefighting (A Class Foam).

USDA tests products and ensure suitability for human and environment toxicity.

Drones

The use of drones near or at bushfire incidents is prohibited. This dangerous act can endanger the safety of our firefighting personnel.

If a drone is detected near a bushfire, the aerial firefighting operations will stop until it is safe to resume. This affects our ability to effectively manage a bushfire incident.

If you see a drone being used at a bushfire, contact the police on 000.

Read the regulations for flying drones on the Civil Aviation Safety Authority website.