2011 12 Pre Fire Season Aviation Briefing Briefing

2011/12 Pre Fire Season Aviation Briefing

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

Season 2010/11 in Review.

Annual Statistics

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. 2010/11 Significant Occurrences. Flood recce – near miss. • Pilot left helo controls during refuelling. • 2 x rappel related – knee injury & detached rope. •

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.

Progress of Royal Commission Outcomes.

Royal Commission – Aviation Outcomes 1. Dispatch of aircraft – draft SAUP circulated. 2. Preparedness – draft SAUP to be circulated. 3. Enhanced request and dispatch systems – current processes being mapped, AMC to determine scope.

SAU Policy & Procedures

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 Fleet Aircraft 2011/12.

Type 1 Helicopters • Helitack 341 – Erickson S 64 F Air-Crane: – Essendon – includes AAS platform Firebird 308. • Helitack 342 – Erickson S 64 E Air-Crane: – Ballarat – includes AAS platform Firebird 309. • Helitack 347 – Sikorsky S 61 N: – Colac – Firebombing – fixed tank/bambi bucket; • Sling load, rappel*, PAX transport 18. • Helitack 348 – Sikorsky S 61 N: – Mansfield – firebombing – bambi bucket; • Sling load, rappel*, PAX transport 18.

HTK 341 S 64 F Air-Crane Essendon HTK 348 Sikorsky S 61 N Mansfield HTK 342 S 64 E Air-Crane Essendon HTK 347 Sikorsky S 61 N Colac

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 214 B – Olinda TBC. • Firebird 336 – B 3 Squirrel (Type 3 with bellytank) – Bendigo. • Firebird 337 – B 3 Squirrel (Type 3 with bellytank) – Benalla. • Firebird 338 – Bell 206 L (bucket) – LTV (HVP aircraft).

Type 3 Helicopters • Firebird 301 – Bell B 206 – Horsham. • Firebird 302 – AS 350 FX – Moorabbin. • Firebird 303 – AS 350 BA – Ovens. • Firebird 304 – AS 350 D – Bairnsdale. • Firebird 305 – Bell B 206 – Bendigo. • Firebird 306 – AS 350 D – Moorabbin-2 hr/15 min. • Firebird 307 – AS 350 B 2 – Moorabbin. • Firebird 308 – Bell Longranger – Essendon (AAS platform HT 341). • Firebird 309 – Bell Longranger – Ballarat (AAS platform HT 342). • Firebird 310 – Bell B 206 – Colac (AAS platform HT 347*). • Firebird 311 – Bell B 206 – Mansfield (AAS platform HT 348*). • Firebird 312 – AS 350 BA – Olinda TBC (Melb Water).

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

SEATs – 2 hr / 12 hr - 15 min Standby • Bomber 357 – PZL M 18 B Dromader – Stawell. • Bomber 358 – PZL M 18 B Dromader – LTV. • Bomber 359 – PZL M 18 B Dromader – Benambra. • Bomber 360 – Air Tractor AT 802 F – Stawell. • Bomber 361 – PZL M 18 B Dromader – LTV.

Fixed Wing Recce and Specialist Aircraft • Birddog 366 – Cessna C 337 Essendon. • Birddog 367* – Cessna 337 Ballarat. • Birddog 384* – Cessna 337 Wangaratta. *12 hrs to 15 min 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.

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

Standby & Deployment Arrangements.

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.

Standby Arrangements – Pilots State Fleet: • Standard 15 min / 2 hr / 12 hr 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 15 mins.

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 15 mins.

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.

Training.

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.

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 Fire. Web 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.

Safety & Management.

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 Fire. Web. • Checklist developed. • Includes all helipads in existing Agency depots etc. • 3 year approval period. • Reg. form and procedures – SAUP FO 2. 02.

Documentation.

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.

Innovation.

Convair Evaluation 2 x Convair CV 580 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 – 330 km from NOB. Turnaround – 103 minutes (on-ground 11 minutes). •

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 cereal crop residue effectiveness; • Alternative aerial suppressants; • Terrain and operational performance; • Open field recovery.

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.

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

Flight Following Timer - F Pad • A 4 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 ICC 3. • Single aircraft unit being developed.

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.

Night Vision Goggles • FB 302 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.

Into 2012.

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 3 x. AIMs (total 12) and 1 x. ADT (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.

SAU Manager’s Message.

Managers Message • Survey conducted with Agencies to better understand their expectations of the SAU. • Stakeholder communications plan will take outcomes of this survey into account. • Intention to run similar survey with industry. • SAU to continue to work with Agencies and industry to deliver safe air operations.

Safety is the paramount consideration in all Agency aircraft operations. At all times care must be taken in aerial activities and ground support activities to ensure that the highest possible standards of safety are maintained.