Australia builds largest firefighting air fleet in country's history
Australia has acquired its biggest-ever fleet of firefighting aircraft ahead of the summer bushfire season.
The fleet of 500 aircraft now includes a Coulson Fireliner Boeing 737 air tanker, capable of carrying 15,000 litres of water or retardant, on a permanent lease.
The air tanker, based at Richmond RAAF base in NSW, will fly across the country to help with firefighting efforts.
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Australia has acquired its biggest fleet of bushfire-fighting aircraft ahead of the impending bushfire season. Nine
A national aerial fleet was a key recommendation of the royal commission into the Black Summer bushfires.
"Heading into this season, we have been able to assemble nationally the largest-ever fleet of water bombing aircraft that Australia has ever seen," Emergency Management Minister Murray Watts said.
"Including six of these large aerial tankers, some leased, some owned by governments around Australia and of course a lot of smaller aeroplanes and helicopters as well.
"Its greatest asset (is) being able to head off fires before they take hold and threaten property."
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The fleet of 500 aircraft includes a government-owned Boeing 737 air tanker, capable of carrying 15,000 litres of water or retardant. Nine
The 737 can be filled up in 10 minutes, meaning it can be airborne and supporting firefighters within 15 minutes of being called into action.
"Our job is to get retardant on the ground, which slows the fire down and allows the people on the ground to actually put the fire out," Coulson Aviation's John Gallaher said.
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