Australian airtanker and helitanker pilot requirements

This information was sent in by David Cant, Business Development for Blaze Tamer 380 (a liquid polymer gel). David will co-host the Tangent-Link convention in Aix-en-Provence, 10-11 April. He is also working on an Australian AAF chapter to host visiting AAF firefighters with a few cold ones. Thanks David!

This info is also permanently posted in Aerial Firefighting > Contractors > Australia.

 

Thought I would post you in on what is happening here to get a pathway started for pilots to get an aerial firefighting endorsement in Australia. Previously there was only an aerial application endorsement required but it required no instruction on aerial firefighting and yet you could become a firefighting pilot. There was nothing at all for helicopter pilots here.

So CASA, Australia’s FAA equivalent has changed their legislation to include this from advice from one of my staff when I managed aerial operations in SA.

It is not much but it is a start and they are yet to work out the competencies yet for the aerial firefighting component. Compared to the standards required for the aircraft national contracts this is way below them but as I said enables a pathway for learning.

 

Part 2—Firefighting endorsements

Aeroplane firefighting endorsement

• · Pilot an aeroplane conducting a firefighting operation below 500 ft AGL
• · Pilot an aeroplane conducting a low-level operation

Aeroplane category rating

• · At least 200 hours of flight time as pilot of an aeroplane
• · At least 5 hours of dual flight in an aeroplane while receiving training in low level operations
• · At least 5 hours of dual flight in an aeroplane while receiving training in firefighting operations

Helicopter firefighting endorsement

• · Pilot a helicopter conducting a firefighting operation below 500 ft AGL
• · Pilot a helicopter conducting a low-level operation

Helicopter category rating

• · At least 200 hours of flight time as pilot of a helicopter
• · At least 5 hours of dual flight in a helicopter while receiving training in low-level operations
• · At least 5 hours of dual flight in a helicopter while receiving training in firefighting operations

 

Here are the National Aerial Firefighting Centre contract requirements in comparison:

Except where specifically exempted in writing by NAFC the Contractor will ensure that pilots and co-pilots will meet all of the requirements of this subheading.

3.2. The Contractor will ensure that the pilot in the command of any Aircraft provided has flown a minimum of 1500 hours as pilot in command.

3.3. The Contractor will ensure that the pilot of any Aircraft provided that may undertake Firebombing has flown a minimum of 1000 hours total time in agricultural operations or in similar operations certified by the Chief Pilot of the Contractor as providing equivalent experience to agricultural operations. This clause does not apply to pilots provided for Air Attack Supervision Aircraft or Specialist Intelligence Gathering Aircraft.

3.4. The Contractor will ensure that the pilot in command of any Aircraft provided has flown a minimum of 100 hours total time in agricultural operations or in firefighting operations at low level in mountainous or heavily dissected terrain or in similar operations as certified by the Chief Pilot of the Contractor as providing equivalent experience to operations in a mountainous environment. The Contractor will ensure that the pilot in command of any Air Attack Supervision Aircraft provided has flown a minimum of 25 hours total time in agricultural operations or firefighting operations under the conditions outlined in this clause. This clause does not apply to pilots provided for Fixed Wing Specialist Intelligence Gathering Aircraft.

3.5. The Contractor will ensure that the pilot in command of any Aircraft provided that may undertake Firebombing has a minimum of 50 hours total time of Firebombing experience. This clause does not apply to pilots provided for Air Attack Supervision Aircraft or Specialist Intelligence Gathering Aircraft.

3.6. The Contractor will ensure that the pilot in command of any Air Attack Supervision Aircraft or Specialist Intelligence Gathering Aircraft has a minimum of 50 hours total time of Aerial Firefighting experience.

3.7. The Contractor will ensure that the pilot in command of any Aircraft provided has flown a minimum of 100 hours as pilot in command on type or on a similar type as acceptable to NAFC.

3.8. The Contractor will ensure that the pilot in command of any Aircraft provided has flown a minimum of 5 hours as pilot in command on type or on a similar type as acceptable to NAFC in the six month period immediately preceding the commencement of any Service Period.

3.9. The Contractor will ensure that the pilot in command of any Firebombing Aircraft provided has dropped a minimum of 10 loads of Fire Retardant or Fire Suppressant under the supervision and to the full satisfaction of an authorised officer during actual or simulated Aerial Firefighting operations.

 

Submitted by David Cant

Business Development Manager, BlazeTamer 380

Bio-Central Laboratories Limited

22 Phillips Street THEBARTON South Australia AUSTRALIA 5031

Mobile/Cell +61 458 047 431

Office +61 8 8234 8886

Fax +61 8 8234 8889

Email david.cant@blazetamer.com

Web www.blazetamer.com