2011/12 Pre Fire Season Aviation Briefing

1. 2011/12 Pre Fire Season Aviation Briefing

2. Briefing Intent • Report on previous season – lessons learnt. • Advise on changes for forthcoming season. • Advise on SAU policy and procedures. • Advise on SAU programs. • Forum for discussion.

3. Season 2010/11 in Review.

4. Annual Statistics

5. 2010/11 Significant Occurrences. Season 2010/11 • Approx 4200 hrs flown by agencies. • Approx 275 hrs for fire suppression. • Approx 1200 hrs for flood work. • Approx 610 hrs for aerial ignition. • Flood recce – near miss. • Pilot left helo controls during refuelling. • 2 x rappel related – knee injury & detached rope.

6. Season 2010/11 – Flood Operations • Approx 1200 hrs for flood work. • Agency personnel transport, reconnaissance, damage assessment, sling load, VIP, IR linescan, relocation of public. • 39 different aircraft used. • 1 serious incident – near miss Shepparton. • Multiple AIIMS roles filled – agency personnel – Air Observer, Airbase Manager, Aircraft Officer, Air Ops Manager. • First time SES significant involvement in aircraft use.SAU working with SES to expand knowledge of operational usage. • SAU procedures catered for atypical operations.

7. Progress of Royal CommissionOutcomes.

8. Royal Commission – Aviation Outcomes Dispatch of aircraft – draft SAUP circulated. Preparedness – draft SAUP to be circulated. Enhanced request and dispatch systems – current processes being mapped, AMC to determine scope.

9. SAU Policy & Procedures

10. SAUPs • SAUP FO 2.02 – HLS & Helicopter Outlandings – ready for distribution. • SAUP AM 1.06 – Obtaining Aircraft – compiling comments for final draft. • SAUP AM 1.08 – Aviation Resources – Readiness Arrangements – to be circulated for comment asap. • SAUP AM 1.09 – Aviation Resource Stand-down & Suspension Procedures – to be circulated for comment. • SAUP FO 2.04 – Operational and Flight Planning – template for non-fire operations plans to be added. • SAUPs to be emailed to distribution list in pdf and updated on SAU website. State Aircraft Unit Policy and Procedures State Aircraft Unit Policy and Procedures State Aircraft Unit Policy and Procedures The State Aircraft Unit is a joint fire agency initiative of CFA and DSE, providing specialist aviation resources for fire, land and emergency management. The State Aircraft Unit is a joint fire agency initiative of CFA and DSE, providing specialist aviation resources for fire, land and emergency management. The State Aircraft Unit is a joint fire agency initiative of CFA and DSE, providing specialist aviation resources for fire, land and emergency management.

11. State Fleet Aircraft 2011/12.

12. Type 1 Helicopters • Helitack 341–Erickson S64F Air-Crane: • Essendon –includes AAS platform Firebird 308. • Helitack 342–Erickson S64E Air-Crane: • Ballarat – includes AAS platform Firebird 309. • Helitack 347–Sikorsky S61N: • Colac – Firebombing – fixed tank/bambi bucket; • Sling load, rappel*, PAX transport 18. • Helitack 348–Sikorsky S61N: • Mansfield – firebombing – bambi bucket; • Sling load, rappel*, PAX transport 18.

13. HTK 348 Sikorsky S61N Mansfield HTK 341 S64F Air-Crane Essendon HTK 342 S64E Air-Crane Essendon HTK 347 Sikorsky S61N Colac

14. Type 2 & 3 Tactical Helicopters • Helitack 331 – Bell 212 – Moorabbin. • Helitack 332 – Bell 212 – Ovens. • Helitack 333 – Bell 212 – Heyfield. • Helitack 334 – Bell 412 – Stawell, Fire Readiness Location – Sea Lake (2/11 to 31/12 approx); • Helitack 335 – Bell 214B – Olinda TBC. • Firebird 336 – B3 Squirrel (Type 3 with bellytank) – Bendigo. • Firebird 337 – B3 Squirrel (Type 3 with bellytank) – Benalla. • Firebird 338– Bell 206L (bucket) – LTV (HVP aircraft).

16. Type 3 Helicopters • Firebird 301 – Bell B206 – Horsham. • Firebird 302 – AS 350FX – Moorabbin. • Firebird 303 – AS 350BA – Ovens. • Firebird 304 – AS 350D – Bairnsdale. • Firebird 305 – Bell B206 – Bendigo. • Firebird 306 – AS 350D – Moorabbin-2hr/15min. • Firebird 307 – AS350B2 – Moorabbin. • Firebird 308 – Bell Longranger – Essendon (AAS platform HT341). • Firebird 309 – Bell Longranger – Ballarat (AAS platform HT342). • Firebird 310 – Bell B206 – Colac (AAS platform HT347*). • Firebird 311 – Bell B206 – Mansfield (AAS platform HT348*). • Firebird 312 – AS 350BA – Olinda TBC (Melb Water).

18. SEATs - 15 min Standby • Bomber 351 – Air Tractor AT 802F – Stawell. • Bomber 352 – Air Tractor AT 802F – Casterton. • Bomber 353 – PZL M18B Dromader – Hamilton. • Bomber 354 – Air Tractor AT 802F – Albury. • Bomber 355 – PZL M18B Turbine Dromader – Bairnsdale. • Bomber 356 – Air Tractor AT 802F – Albury. • Bomber 365 – PZL M18A Turbine Dromader – Bendigo.

19. SEATs – 2hr / 12hr - 15 min Standby • Bomber 357 – PZL M18B Dromader – Stawell. • Bomber 358 – PZL M18B Dromader – LTV. • Bomber 359 – PZL M18B Dromader – Benambra. • Bomber 360 – Air Tractor AT 802F – Stawell. • Bomber 361 – PZL M18B Dromader – LTV.

21. Fixed Wing Recce and Specialist Aircraft • Birddog 366 – Cessna C337 Essendon. • Birddog 367* – Cessna 337 Ballarat. • Birddog 384* – Cessna 337 Wangaratta. *12hrs to 15min readiness, request to SAD, Region/District activation – protocols to be re-circulated. Infra-red line scanning. • Firescan 300 – Beech King Air – Essendon. • Firescan 350 – Beech King Air – Essendon.

23. Aviation Management Procedures For Pilots – No changes to procedures for: • Mandatory 5nm inbound calls to fire/airbase; • Fire CTAF frequencies; • Flight Following; • Requirement – 2 x aero & 2 x Agency radios; • “No comms – no go”.

24. Standby & DeploymentArrangements.

25. Request and Dispatch Procedures – Pilots • ALL State Fleet aircraft initial dispatch is via SAD even if request originates from aircraft’s “home” location. No self activation. • Location/comms details provided on deployment. • On departure from NOB - all State Fleet aircraft shall call SAD. • Automatically monitor Fire CTAF 132.55 unless advised by SAD. • Region/District light fixed wing aircraft deployed locally. Staff advise SAD on deployment. Fire CTAF advised to Region/District.

26. Standby Arrangements – Pilots State Fleet: • Standard 15 min / 2 hr / 12hr availability (non TFB) hours 1000-1800 – 30 mins outside these hours. • Can be varied day to day as determined by SAD. • Total Fire Ban days – automatically 0900 – 1900,refer to Cockpit Handbook - you are expected to be of aware of TFB. • Extreme weather forecast – as advised by SAD. • Once deployed start times determined by Aircraft Officer/IMT – availability remains 15mins.

27. Standby Arrangements – Pilots “Regional” Call When Needed Aircraft: • Standard 15 min availability (non TFB) hours 1000-1800 – or as determined by Region/District. • Can be varied day to day as determined by Region/District. • Total Fire Ban day – as advised by Region/District. • Once deployed start times determined by Aircraft Officer/IMT or Region/District – availability remains 15mins.

28. Preparedness Protocols • Preparedness trigger levels dependant on risk and FDI’s and respective Agency requirements. • State Preparedness Plan – prepared by SAC, agreed by both Agencies SDO on day to day basis. • Repositioning protocol depends on predicted threat. • Includes aircraft, personnel and support resources. • Additional tactical CWN aircraft on standby – approved by both Agency SDOs.

29. Training.

30. Training • Many Air Attack Supervisors – very little flying last two years – currency. • Increased mentoring of “provisional” roles required. • “Regional” aircraft exercises – coordinated by Agency Region/Districts – Ops Plans to be submitted to SAU – aircraft supplied for joint agency events by SAU only on approval of plans. • Airbase Radio Operators 4 courses conducted – “Regional” package available.

31. Basic Wildfire Awareness - pilots • Mandatory requirements for all “operational” personnel. • Victorian State Fleet and CWN pilots / engineers and support and contractors staff (refuellers). • No agreements with interstate fire services – DSE RTO. • Access http://www.firetraining.org.au/ : • Follow Fire Training Online to Basic Wildfire Awareness and follow login prompts; • You must register for certification post completion of test; • READ instructions and provide all details - especially DOB and aircraft company requirements. • Names entered on FireWeb system after completion and registration. • Certificate follows in time to operator/Chief Pilot, not individual. • 800+ on list - pilot’s swapping companies – not issuing new certificates.

32. Safety & Management.

33. Mandatory Helipad Registration & Approval • All non-fireline helipads to be inspected, approved by accredited Agency personnel – from issues raised from NSW / Dorrigo fatality. • Aimed at ensuring safety and ensuring owners approvals are obtained. • All will be registered on FireWeb. • Checklist developed. • Includes all helipads in existing Agency depots etc. • 3 year approval period. • Reg. form and procedures – SAUP FO2.02.

34. Documentation.

35. Documentation • On-line pilot and aircraft CWN register – open for registration – Warren Fuller. • Pilot Reference Manual – via Chief Pilots. • Cockpit handbooks – distributed early Nov. • Flight Operations Returns – more books from Warren. • CFA Districts – FOR/recce aircraft invoice to Kylie David. • DSE Areas – copies of recce FORs to Kylie David.

36. Innovation.

37. Convair Evaluation • 2 x Convair CV580 Air Tankers – 8000 litre capacity. • Based at Avalon and engaged for 12 weeks. Summary of Bushfire Operations: • 12 loads – 95,400 litres delivered – all retardant. • Manns Beach: 2 x loads, 2 x drops, 15,898 litres – direct attack. • Tostaree: 2 x loads, 2 x drops, 15,898 litres – indirect attack. • Mt Richmond: 8 x loads, 10 x drops, 63,396 litres – parallel and direct attack. • Mt Richmond – 330km from NOB. Turnaround – 103 minutes (on-ground 11 minutes).

38. Convair Evaluation In conjunction – performance evaluation conducted. Evaluation Aim: “….aircraft to perform a series of fire bombing drop tests in controlled environments over a series of pre-determined target sites….” Evaluation Scenarios: • Forested canopy effectiveness; • Built environment impact assessment; • Grassland and cereal crop residue effectiveness; • Alternative aerial suppressants; • Terrain and operational performance; • Open field recovery.

39. Convair Evaluation • Total evaluation (non-fire) activities – 16 days. • Total loads – 48. • Total drops – 63. • Total volume delivered – 381,552 litres. • “Evaluation of Convair CV-580 Multi Engine Air Tanker” prepared by Tim Vercoe Bushfire CRC - report received 26/9. • Convair project control board to meet and discuss outcome and future release of report – 6/10.

40. Convair Evaluation Effective drop dimensions (average): • Coverage level 8 - grassland - 240m x 15m (retardant & gel); • Coverage level 8 - forest - 220m x 15m (retardant); • Coverage level 2 – grassland – 600m x 8m(gel); • Coverage level 2 – grassland – 800m x 5m(water).

41. Flight Following Timer - F Pad • A4 size “pad” timer – 6 aircraft. • Count down from 30 min – push button reset each aircraft. • Counts up from 00 – change of LED colour. • Battery powered and AC converter. • Prototype trialled at SAD during 2011 burning season. • Production run version – ready mid Oct. • Initial release – airbases and ICC3. • Single aircraft unit being developed.

42. Aerial Intelligence Gathering (AIG) Trial • Trial conducted 19-23 Sept in north central Victoria. • 4 x aircraft (3 FW, 1 RW), 3 x high definition/IR cameras, 2 x mapping systems. • All aircraft participated in number of exercises in varying terrain to demonstrate capability of systems. • Final report to be prepared for submission to AMC in Dec 2011.

45. Night Vision Goggles • FB302 fitted out for NVG operations. • Awaiting CASA approval for NVG on Heli-Serv AOC. • CASA approving AI as approved NVG operation. • SAU purchased 3 x NVGs on behalf of Agencies. • Only aerial reconnaissance & aerial incendiary operations. • Small pool of accredited Air Observers and Incendiary Operations Supervisors to be trained to NVG flight crew status. • Strict Go/No Go requirements for missions - SAUP. • Requirement for operational support – post last light.

46. Into 2012.

47. Into 2012 • FLIRs – 2 x Wescam MX-10 systems evaluated and purchased – 1 for delivery in Dec 2011 and other in Jan 2012. Initial fitting for State Fleet Squirrel helicopters. • Airbase Communications upgrade continues. • Aerial ignition equipment - additional 3xAIMs (total 12) and 1xADT (total 5) purchased for autumn 2012 FRB program. • LTV airbase welfare facilities near completion, Snowy Range gravelled, SEAT loading slab at Vic Valley completed, Mt Hotham works to commence.

50. SAU Manager’s Message.