Tasking of RFS Owned Aircraft

Scope

This Operational Guideline provides guidance on the tasking of NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) owned aircraft.

Fundamental Protocols underpin the actions of all RFS members and must be adhered to at all times. They outline the Principles of being an RFS member and provide guidance on conduct to support the safety and wellbeing of members.

Guiding Principles

The RFS operates a number of agency owned aircraft. The roles of these aircraft are outlined in the table below:

• The State Air Desk (SAD) Procedure  outlines the principles for dispatching RFS owned aircraft in line with the primary and secondary roles outlined above. RFS owned aircraft will be dispatched through ARENA in accordance with this tasking guideline.
• The RFS owned aircraft will predominantly be used for their primary roles outlined above. Where they are dispatched for their secondary roles during fire incidents, it is expected this will only be due to a matter of urgency or when they are closest available, and that they will be redeployed from these tasks once other resources arrive.
• The immediate tasking principles are outlined in RFS OPG - Dispatch of Aviation Resources  informed by availability and capability information in ARENA. When ARENA indicates that a RFS owned aircraft is the closest, fit for purpose solution for an immediate task, it should be dispatched. The following principles apply to an immediate dispatch of RFS owned aircraft:
  • Where the RFS owned Helitak aircraft are tasked for RAFT/RART capability, they should remain in support of these crews undertaking firebombing or other support roles as required;
  • The use of the RFS owned Helitak for an immediate firebombing task (not related to a RART/RAFT operation) may occur when there is no other suitable alternative firebombing aircraft closer, or as a last resort to support other aircraft.
    • After tasking the RFS owned Helitak for firebombing, the SAD will make arrangements to have this aircraft released and replaced with a dedicated firebombing asset as soon as practical.
• The planned tasking principles are outlined in RFS OPG - Dispatch of Aviation Resources , informed by availability, capability and procurement information in ARENA. For all sustained fire and emergency response operations, the RFS owned aircraft will be made available for their primary roles. The following principles apply to a planned dispatch of RFS owned aircraft:
  • The use of RFS owned Helitak aircraft for RAFT/RART, aerial intelligence, rescue (including Flood), and SAR operations is preferred where this involves winching of RFS firefighters or rescue crew. Consideration should be given to forward staging the RFS owned aircraft specifically for this type of work;
  • The use of RFS owned aircraft for operations as requested by other agencies or Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) should be considered where this represents the most cost effective solution for this type of task. Consideration should be given to forward staging the RFS owned aircraft specifically for this type of work;
  • Aerial Incendiary (AI) operations are always considered under a planned tasking process. As such, the use of the RFS owned aircraft for aerial incendiary work should occur in accordance with requirements of RFS OPG - Dispatch of Aviation Resources , where this represents the most cost effective solution; and
• Training events – for all internal RFS training events, the RFS owned aircraft should be prioritised to attend. For training events external to the RFS, the most cost neutral resource should be considered.
• Display / public relations events – for all internal RFS display events, the RFS owned aircraft should be prioritised to attend. For general display / public relations events external to the RFS, the most cost neutral resource should be considered.

Special Considerations

• The operator of RFS owned aircraft will be responsible for ensuring that all details of these aircraft are entered and updated on ARENA including the availability information and TracPlus data logging.
• Any dispatch of a RFS owned aircraft must always be supported by an appropriately approved aircraft request form including training and media events.
• The RFS owned Helitaks have intelligence gathering capability through on board FLIR camera systems.
• The RFS owned Citations and Kingair have scanning capability through overwatch system.

Related Information

• RFS OPG – Aviation Dispatch Procedures
• Manual Dispatch Form
• RFS OPG - State Air Desk (SAD) Procedure