Where there is smoke

The importance of aerial firefighting has been underscored in every fire season for more than a decade. From humble beginnings in the 1950s, the sector is now highly professional with mission-specific aircraft and is a vital component of Australia’s bushfire emergency response capability.

While AAAA has represented firebombing operators – both fixedwing and rotary – for over a decade, this will be the first opportunity for all firefighting operators to come together to discuss the issues specifically affecting their sector.

CASA’s Part 61 has introduced a firefighting endorsement for the first time – based on competencies provided by AAAA after a meeting of ATOs involved in firefighting.

But that new regime is far from perfect and requires amendment to make it more practical.

The provision of an ‘alternate’ pathway into firefighting for those pilots who don’t come from an aerial application background was foremost in discussions between CASA and AAAA over the years of development of the current regime.

The new system – which understandably is widely misunderstood because of its appalling implementation by CASA – allows pilots to gain a firefighting endorsement regardless of their background. If they already have low level qualifications, then that can be recognised by the organisation delivering the required training.

The clear message is that rotary pilots do not need to have an ‘ag rating’ to go firefighting.

They will need a firefighting endorsement – and at the same time will automatically be issued an aerial application rating. As the aerial application rating will not automatically be accompanied by an aerial application endorsement (another new Part 61 qualification), a person with only a firefighting endorsement cannot conduct spraying or other ag type applications. Clear as mud! It’s so clear that AAAA has just produced a fact sheet of questions and answers on Part 61 for members that tries to provide some explanation as to how the new system works.

Even the issue of how to classify firefighting operations is still being discussed with CASA.

AAAA believes that the different operational nature of fire operations should result in firebombing remaining in an expanded CASR Part 137 that includes rotary aerial application, with ‘other’ fire ops going to Part 138 – which is still under development.

Part 137 has worked extremely

The new system is widely misunderstood because of its appalling implementation.

well since 2007 and allows great flexibility for the type of operations it covers – including fixed-wing firebombing. It was always CASA’s intent that Part 137 would eventually extend the same flexibility to rotary operators.

Aerial firefighting is a very demanding and diverse range of operations, including fixed-wing bombing from single-engine air tankers (SEATs) through to very large tankers (VLT), and rotary bombing using either belly tanks or buckets on a line.

In addition, there is a range of critical firefighting tasks performed in air attack supervision, incendiary dropping, high-tech surveillance using line scan, FLIR and other equipment, and even rappelling firefighters into strategic locations around the fireground.

Add challenging conditions where smoke, high winds, high temperatures, turbulence and the clear imperative of an emergency response mission, and it is easy to see the importance of maintaining a focus on safety.

Another consideration is the way aviation companies providing fire services relate to their clients – the state/territory fire agencies or the National Aerial Firefighting Centre that coordinates firefighting contracts. Anyone in commercial operations knows that sometimes the client’s demands can impact on safety unless they are countered by a strong operator commitment. For example, continually increasing the potential for pilot distraction by having contractual arrangements that demand up to five radios be fitted and monitored in addition to tracking devices, mobile phones and even cameras needs a means of resolution that does not end because of the economic power of one party over another.

AAAA published its National Aerial Firefighting Policy in 2003 following devastating fire seasons and updated it in 2008. This policy and accompanying lobbying has already helped to shape outcomes that are far more supportive of the industry. AAAA intends updating the policy again after the Fire Operators Conference.

AAAA is very proud to represent operators involved in the emergency services role and by hosting what will hopefully become an annual event, AAAA is committed to ensuring their united voice is heard and acted upon.

Registration details for operators and staff only for the conference will be available on the AAAA website in the near future.