Australia's fire authorities are reviewing a draft firefighting operations manual designed to standardise aerial firefighting procedures across the country.
The development of the manual follows a firefighting review conducted in 2009 by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority after a number of accidents involving firefighting aircraft in the 2009 fire season.
The issue of a lack of standardised procedures was highlighted in the investigation by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau of a midair collision between a Eurocopter AS350B and a Eurocopter/Kawasaki BK117 performing aerial firebombing operations 20km (11nm) south-east of Orange aerodrome, New South Wales in December 2009.
The final report into the accident was released in late November. During one of the water drop sequences, while in the vicinity of the drop point, the BK117's main rotor blade tip contacted the trailing edge of the AS350B's vertical fin above the tail rotor arc, resulting in slight damage to the latter.
Although there were no injuries, "the outcome could have been more serious", the ATSB points out. One of the accidents involving firefighting aircraft in New South Wales during the 2009 fire season resulted in the loss of a life.
In its investigation of the BK117 and AS350B collision, the ATSB found that there were no published procedures for pilots to follow to ensure separation from other aircraft when there was no air attack supervisor present.
Rather, the system relied on the airmanship and experience of pilots to mutually arrange separation. The ATSB determined that neither pilot in that incident was aware of the position of the other helicopter as they approached the drop point.
CASA's review was prompted by the fact that Australia's aerial firefighting industry has expanded considerably in recent years, outgrowing its agricultural industry roots, and is developing into a sector in its own right. It includes light aircraft on spotting and incendiary dropping duties, specialist helicopters and converted airliners.
Following the 2009 bushfire season, Australian state fire authorities had raised a number of issues with CASA over the regulation, approval and oversight of operators involved in firefighting operations, including the fact that existing pilot training and competence rules for firefighting were not adequate.
Following its review, CASA recommended the creation of a standard operations manual for firefighting. A project team, comprising CASA, fire authority and industry representatives, was established, resulting in the development of a draft operations manual and implementation plan.
The manual includes standard radio procedures to be used by pilots to help maintain safe separation. The review by fire agencies will be followed by consultation with all firefighting operators, says the report.
Source: Flight International
