![]() Some SEATs are also fitted with amphibious floats which afford them the ability to land on and scoop water from lakes, rivers or reservoirs. In addition to dropping suppressant, SEATs can also perform coordination, fire detection and mapping roles. SEATs carry approximately 3,000 litres of suppressant, but can be tasked in groups of two or more aircraft to increase their overall effectiveness. Fixed-wing aircraftĨ.10 SEATs are an effective option in aerial firefighting because they can operate from regional and remote airfields and can be deployed quickly in response to a bushfire. Fixed‑wing aircraft include very large air tankers (VLAT), large air tankers (LAT), single‑engine air tankers (SEAT) and other conventional fixed-wing aircraft. Ĩ.9 Fixed-wing aircraft require an airfield or landing strip to take-off and land and tend to be able to travel greater distances and at higher speeds than helicopters. the specific objectives, strategy and tactics being adopted in response to the bushfire.The most appropriate aircraft will depend on a number of factors, including: Aircraft usedĨ.8 No single aircraft type is universally more effective than others in aerial firefighting. Direct attack involves dropping suppressant directly on the fire, whereas indirect attack uses suppressant near a fire, most commonly in its path to stop or slow its spread. Ĩ.7 Aircraft use fire suppressant to directly or indirectly attack bushfires. Transport and logistics roles include supporting ground crews during bushfires, and transporting firefighters to remote locations.directly and indirectly attacking bushfires with suppressant to slow or prevent the spread of fires, and dropping suppressant to protect communities and critical infrastructure.providing a rapid response to bushfires before ground crews have arrived at the scene by dropping suppressant (that is retardant, water, foam or gel) to prevent the fire from spreading, and.dropping incendiary devices (aerial ignition) to ignite back burns or prescribed burns.Firefighting and bushfire management roles include:.Situational awareness roles include fire detection, strategic mapping, line-scanning to track the progress of fires, and assessing infrastructure or communities at risk.In the context of bushfires, aircraft are particularly useful for providing situational awareness, fighting fires, and transport and logistics roles: transport emergency or recovery teams to remote areas.Ĩ.6 Aircraft are generally categorised as either fixed-wing or rotary-wing (helicopters).access remote communities to deliver essential supplies or conduct evacuations, and.deploy quickly and over great distances to gain situational awareness and respond to natural disasters.Roles performed by aircraftĨ.5 Aircraft have unique capabilities that can be employed in response to, and recovery from, a range of natural disasters. This warrants a reassessment of Australia’s current reliance on overseas-based aviation services, and a focus on developing Australia’s sovereign aerial firefighting capability. Predicted longer northern and southern hemisphere fire seasons also expose risks associated with Australia’s reliance on overseas-based aircraft.Ĩ.4 The prospect of lengthening and increasingly severe fire seasons will only increase the demand for aerial firefighting services in the future. NAFC procures and allocates a fleet of aircraft and support services, from within Australia and overseas, to supplement the capabilities of the states and territories.Ĩ.3 The severity and duration of the 2019‑2020 bushfire season placed strain on the existing arrangements for sharing aerial firefighting capabilities between the states and territories. Additional aircraft are provided by the National Aerial Firefighting Centre (NAFC), a business unit of the Australasian Fire and Emergency Service Authorities Council (AFAC). Its importance was reflected in the unprecedented use of aircraft, across a range of applications, during the 2019‑2020 bushfire season.Ĩ.2 Each state and territory manages its own aerial firefighting capabilities comprising owned or leased aircraft. 8.1 Aviation is an essential component of Australia’s natural disaster arrangements.
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