A DC-10 air tanker brought into Victoria to help with
bushfire operations this summer is being evaluated by researchers
at the Bushfire Cooperative Research Centre.
The chief executive officer of the Bushfire CRC, Mr Gary
Morgan, said the trial of the air tanker will add to the limited
knowledge in this area.
“We need to know what this aircraft can do and what
it can’t do in Australian conditions. This type of aircraft
has not been used for fire fighting in Australia and is quite
different to anything in the current fleet of aircraft and
helicopters. It is important that we take the time to fully
understand its capabilities and its limitations under Australian
conditions,” said Mr Morgan.
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The DC10 swoops low over the Wombat State Forest
before dropping retardant.
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The scientific evaluation will aim to assess the
effectiveness of this type of very large aircraft in a range of
situations (remote fires, interface fires, forest fuels, grass
fuels, flat terrain, hilly terrain) and with a range of payloads
(water, retardant). To date, this class of aircraft has not
been tested in all of these conditions, and in particular, not in
interface areas.
The Bushfire CRC has experience in evaluating
the effectiveness of aerial suppression. In recent years the
Bushfire CRC has worked closely with fire fighting agencies around
Australia and internationally and with the National Aerial Fire
Fighting Centre on a range of bushfire suppression projects
involving both air and ground resources.
“The Bushfire CRC will bring its broad expertise to
the trial of this very large aircraft and will share the outcomes
with fire fighting agencies around Australia and
internationally,” said Mr Morgan.
The Bushfire CRC researchers are from the CSIRO and from
Australian fire fighting agencies, who will work closely with the
US aircraft crews.
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Researcher Matt Plucinski briefs the ground
crews at the Wombat State Forest DC10 trial.
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In addition, an S76 helicopter from Canada will accompany the
researchers in their task.
“This helicopter is a vital part of the trial
because it has the speed and responsiveness to keep pace with the
DC-10 and it is equipped with all the necessary monitoring
equipment to ensure that each aerial drop can be properly
assessed,” he said.
The trial is funded by the Victorian Government through
the state’s fire fighting agencies, the CFA and the
Department of Sustainability and Environment.
