Aircraft Operations
Using Aerial Support

During the Fire Danger Season, the CFS establish an Air Operations section to observe and assist with the suppression of fires. In the 2009 / 2010 fire season, a number of aircraft will be contracted to assist. The duties will include fire bombing, transportation of crews and equipment and aerial surveillance. The CFS have members in the surveillance aircraft to assist with fire spotting duties, and providing intelligence reports to the Incident Controller.

Ten fixed wing aircraft and five helicopters will be utilised for this fire season, and the list below indicates the type of aircraft and its role to be performed, the water capacities and callsigns to be used.

Type of Aircraft Water capacity Callsign Base Location Registration
Fire Bombing Duties  
Fixed Wing Air Tractor 602 2450 litre tank Bomber 563 Port lincoln  
Bomber 564 Port lincoln  
Fixed Wing Air Tractor 802 3100 litre tank Bomber 580 Woodside VH-ODW
Bomber 581 Mount Gambier  
Bomber 582 Woodside VH-ODZ
Bomber 583 Mount Gambier  
Bomber 584 Woodside VH-ODH
High Volume Helicopter S64E Aircrane 7500 litre tank Helitak 733 Brukunga N173AL
Fire Bombing / Transportation Duties  
Medium Helicopter Bell 214B 2650 litre tank or 2800 litres in underslung bucket, up to 10 passengers Helitak 574 Parafield N28065
Medium Helicopter Bell 205 1250 litre tank or 1400 litres in underslung bucket, up to 14 passengers Helitak 534 Parafield N232HL
Fire Aerial Surveillance / Intelligence and Transportation Duties  
Light Helicopter Bell 206L Longranger 600 litres in underslung bucket, up to 5 passengers Firebird 504 Parafield VH-FUY
Fixed Wing Cessna 337 Up to 5 passengers Birddog 500 Woodside VH-JOC
Fixed Wing Cessna 182 Up to 3 passengers Firebird 505 Millicent  
Firebird 506 Port Lincoln  
Light Helicopter Eurocopter EC130 1000 litres in underslung bucket, up to 5 passengers Rescue 53 Adelaide Airport VH-OSA

The State Air Desk, located within the CFS Headquarters building in Adelaide manages the dispatch and coordination of aircraft around the State. They operate during daylight hours and monitor incidents in the three primary bomber response zones, and dispatch resources as required.

Specifications: Air Tractor Inc, AT-602
Aircraft Make Air Tractor INC
  Aircraft Type AT602
  Aircraft Model AT-602
  Manufactured Texas, United States of America
Aircraft Operational Information
  MTOW 5670 Kg Airframe
  Type Power Driven Aeroplane
  Airworthy Category Restricted
  Landing Gear Type Tail Wheel - Fixed
Aircraft Engine Information
  Engine Make Pratt & Whitney Canada
  Engine Model PT6A-60AG
  Engine Type Turboprop Propellor
  Propeller Make HC-B5MP-3C
  Propellor Model Hartzel Propellers
  Fuel Type JET-A1
  Number of Engines 1
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Specifications: Air Tractor Inc, AT-802A
Aircraft Make Air Tractor INC
  Aircraft Type AT802
  Aircraft Model AT-802A
  Manufactured Texas, United States of America
Aircraft Operational Information
  MTOW 7257 Kg Airframe
  Type Power Driven Aeroplane
  Airworthy Category Restricted
  Landing Gear Type Tail Wheel - Fixed
Aircraft Engine Information
  Engine Make Pratt & Whitney Canada
  Engine Model PT6A-65AG
  Engine Type Turboprop Propellor
  Propeller Make HC-B5MP-3C
  Propellor Model Hartzel Propellers
  Fuel Type JET-A1
  Number of Engines 1
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Specifications: High Volume Helicopter S64E Aircrane
  Aircraft Make SIKORSKY
  Aircraft Type S-64E
  Aircraft Model S-64E
  Manufactured Oregon, United States of America
Aircraft Operational Information
  MTOW 19,050 kg
  Airframe Type Rotorcraft
  Airworthy Category Standard
  Landing Gear Type Single Tyre, Main and Nose
Aircraft Engine Information
  Engine Make Pratt and Whitney
  Engine Model jftd12a-4a
  Engine Type Turboshaft
  Fuel Type JET-A1
  Number of Engines 2
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Specifications: Medium Helicopter Bell 214B
  Aircraft Make Bell Helicopter Co
  Aircraft Type 214B
  Aircraft Model 214B
  Manufactured Fort Worth, Texas, United States of America
Aircraft Operational Information
  MTOW Unknown kg
  Airframe Type Rotorcraft
  Airworthy Category Not known
  Landing Gear Type Skid
Aircraft Engine Information
  Engine Make Avco Lycoming
  Engine Model T5508D
  Engine Type Single gas turbine
  Fuel Type JET-A1
  Number of Engines 1
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Specifications: Medium Helicopter Bell 205
  Aircraft Make Bell Helicopter Co
  Aircraft Type 205
  Aircraft Model 205A-1
  Manufactured Fort Worth, Texas, United States of America
Aircraft Operational Information
  MTOW Unknown kg
  Airframe Type Rotorcraft
  Airworthy Category Not known
  Landing Gear Type Skid
Aircraft Engine Information
  Engine Make Avco Lycoming
  Engine Model T53-L-13
  Engine Type Single gas turbine
  Fuel Type JET-A1
  Number of Engines 1
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Specifications: Light Helicopter Bell 206L Longranger
  Aircraft Make Bell Helicopter Co
  Aircraft Type 206
  Aircraft Model 206L-1
  Manufactured 1982 in Canada
Aircraft Operational Information
  MTOW 1837 KG
  Airframe Type Rotorcraft
  Airworthy Category Awaiting CofA Data
  Landing Gear Type Skid
Aircraft Engine Information
  Engine Make Allison Gas Turbines
  Engine Model 250-C30P
  Engine Type Turboshaft
  Fuel Type JET-A1
  Number of Engines 1
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Specifications: Cessna 337G Super Skymaster
  Aircraft Make Cessna Aircraft Company
  Aircraft Type 337
  Aircraft Model 337G
  Manufactured 1973 in United States of America
Aircraft Operational Information
  MTOW 2100 KG
  Airframe Type Power Driven Aeroplane
  Airworthy Category Normall
  Landing Gear Type Tricycle - Retractable
Aircraft Engine Information
  Engine Make Teledyne-Continental Motors
  Engine Model IO-360
  Engine Type Piston
  Fuel Type AVGAS
  Number of Engines 2
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Specifications: Light Helicopter Eurocopter EC130
  Aircraft Make Eurocopter
  Aircraft Type EC130
  Aircraft Model EC130B4
  Manufactured 2005 in France
Aircraft Operational Information
  MTOW 2400 KG
  Airframe Type Rotorcraft
  Airworthy Category Normal
  Landing Gear Type Skid
Aircraft Engine Information
  Engine Make TURBOMECA ENGINES
  Engine Model ARRIEL 2B1
  Engine Type Turboshaft Propellor
  Fuel Type JET-A1
  Number of Engines 1
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Specifications: Cessna 182S
Aircraft Make Cessna Aircraft Company
  Aircraft Type 182
  Aircraft Model 182S
  Manufactured United States of America
Aircraft Operational Information
  MTOW 1406 Kg Airframe
  Type Power Driven Aeroplane
  Airworthy Category Normal
  Landing Gear Type Tricycle - Fixed
Aircraft Engine Information
  Engine Make Textron Lycoming
  Engine Model IO-540-AB1A5
  Engine Type Piston
  Propeller Make B2D234C235-B
  Propellor Model McCauley Propellers
  Fuel Type AVGAS
  Number of Engines 1
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Photos taken by Gary Macrae, Aldgate CFS, Joel Schirmer, Athelstone CFS, Robin Geytenbeek, Summertown CFS, Bill Corcoran, Hynam CFS and the CFS Promotions Unit. Aircraft information from RWY34.com
This Information was provided by the
SACFS Promotions Unit
http://www.fire-brigade.asn.au