The United Firefighters Union aviation secretary Wes Garrett said the “in principle” agreement would also include boosting the number of airport firefighters.
Captain Ian McBeth’s widow said, "Those in the best position to determine if it was safe to send the plane up have let all of our families down and have a lot to answer for.”
The business’ global CEO, Wayne Coulson, also told Australian Aviation the loss of Captain Ian McBeth, first officer Paul Hudson and flight engineer Rick DeMorgan is still “deeply felt” by the organisation.
An ATSB report into the deaths of three American firefighters who died tackling the Black Summer blazes has highlighted the inadequate risk planning of operator Coulson and the NSW Rural Fire Service.
The devastation of the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires resulted in long-term changes to aerial firefighting methods, according to Coulson Aviation CEO Wayne Coulson.
The aircraft will serve NSW’s rapid aerial response for regional communities in the state and other emergency services such as search and rescue missions.