The aircraft will be used throughout the bushfire season by Forest Fire Management Victoria, Country Fire Authority and Fire Rescue Victoria to respond to fires.
FFMVic deputy chief fire officer Aaron Kennedy said aircraft play a critical role when responding to fires.
“On high fire danger days, as soon as the call goes out to respond, firebombing aircraft will be dispatched so we can hit the fire hard and fast in the initial stages and keep fires small,” Mr Kennedy said.
“North-east Victoria is one of the most fire-prone areas in the world and this impressive aircraft fleet will work together to deliver an effective fire suppression operation.”
CFA acting assistant chief fire officer Hume region Colin Brown said the aircraft would support on-ground firefighters to contain fires both on private property and public land.
“Dispatching the aircraft with ground crews, fire trucks and bulldozers increases our ability to rapidly contain or limit the size and spread of fires,” Mr Brown said.
“The flow-on effect of this is a reduced impact on local communities and the environment.
“It also reduces the length of time firefighters are required to work in an extremely hazardous environment.”
The firefighting aircraft based across the north-east this summer are:
Benalla:
- Firebird 328, Airbus AS350 B3 Squirrel. This single-engine helicopter is predominantly used for firebombing and is equipped with an 1100 litre firebombing tank. The tank system can be refilled in a hover in about 45 seconds.
Mangalore:
- Helitack 346, Bell 412. A type two firebombing helicopter fitted with a 1400 litre belly tank. It can also be used to transport fire crews and conduct rappel operations.
Mansfield:
- Helitack 348, Sikorsky S61N. A twin turbine engine firebombing helicopter fitted with a 4000 litre capacity bucket. The aircraft can carry two pilots and up to 17 passengers. Can fly at 225km/h and is used for firebombing, fire crew insertion, sling load and rappel operations.
- Firebird 311, Airbus AS350 B2 Squirrel. A single turbine helicopter used for air attack supervision, aerial ignition and reconnaissance.
- Bomber 358, Air Tractor AT802A. A fixed-wing firebombing aircraft with a 3200 litre hopper capacity. It can drop water, foam, or fire retardant and reach speeds of 350km/h.
Ovens:
- Helitack 332, Bell 412. A firebombing helicopter used also as a rappel platform for the rappel firefighting crews. Can carry up to 10 passengers.
- Firebird 303, Airbus AS350 B3 Squirrel. A single turbine helicopter used for air attack supervision, aerial ignition and reconnaissance.
Shepparton:
- Firebird 327, Airbus AS350 B3 Squirrel. This single-engine helicopter is predominantly used for firebombing and is equipped with an 1100 litre firebombing tank. The tank system can be refilled in the hover in about 45 seconds. This model helicopter set an altitude record in 2005, when a test pilot, Didier Delsalle, touched down on the top of Mt Everest, at 8848m.
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