Firebombing News and Events
Pictured below is Dunn Aviation's Bomber 9 (Tumblin' Dice) departing Ballidu on the 2nd of June for Europe! VH-EOG and VH-EDG (The Vader) have been fitted out with S-Tec 50 autopilots coupled to a Garmin 430 Global Positioning System with VOR/ILS, plus HF Comm Equipment for the inter-continental ferry flights.
Rapid Initial Attack Water bombing is proven around the globe to be a superior and cost effective weapon in the fight against disasters such as Wildfire and Oil spills. By staying at the forefront of technology, ingenuity and state of the art machinery, we at Dunn Aviation can provide an all in one package for Airborne Emergency Service.
Dunn Aviation has many years experience firebombing, supplying in 1996 two of the three aircraft used in the inaugural year of the Western Australian Government's “Operation Firebird” The following year Dunn Aviation Ballidu was awarded in partnership with Northhampton Holdings Pty Ltd a three year contract to supply and operate two aircraft at Perth International Airport. This contract required a five minute airborne response for Rapid Initial Attack water bombing on wildfires in and around the Perth metropolitan area. Since restructuring to turbine powered aircraft in 1998 we have supplied backup water bombing aircraft and staff to the Perth Airport operation.
Dunn Aviation played a role in the effort to control the devastating fires on the eastern seaboard during 2001/02 and again in 2002/03, employing both the AT-802F and AT-602. The purchase of new aircraft & vehicles for bombing and support, combined with the continued training of staff, keeps personnel and equipment at the leading edge of technological advances and safety. These two parameters alone are vital to the continued success of the operation.
In 2005 Dunn Aviation tendered for and won the right to become the sole operator to the Western Australian State Government to supply and operate Fixed Wing aircraft throughout the South West Land Division of Western Australia.
The Dunn Aviation fleet consists of three AT-802 aircraft two AT-602 aircraft and six M18 Dromader aircraft a formidable force for Aggressive Initial Attack firebombing. Vital to the operation of aircraft is the crew both flight and ground crew, Dunn Aviation can boast a terrific crew with a massive amount of experience and industry knowledge in Western Australia and indeed around the world.
The picture below was taken at Margaret River on the South West Coast of Western Australia during fire operations during the 2005/2006. Picture from the left are Graham Lowe (Dunn Aviations Chief Pilot) Tibor Turcsanyi, Terry Freeman, Adam Ranger and Tim Greenaway.
Our aircraft are fitted with an independent satellite guidance system “SATLOC” which guides and data records the aircraft movements, these are coupled with dual Garmin moving map GPS systems. The Air Tractor aircraft are also fitted with IFR, “Instrument Flight Rules” instrumentation.
A Dunn Aviation M18 Dromader drops a load of water during our annual training program over a target.
Being able to support the aircraft with ground staff and equipment is of great importance to the success of the task. A fleet of Support Vehicles ensures aircraft and crew have all the equipment needed for the job at hand.
Retardant is used for a number of jobs during the 2005/2006 season retardant was used to try and control a peat fire, extra effort was made to ensure environmental issues were considered.
Our fleet including three AT-802's and and now two brand new AT-602 aircraft, are complimented with six M18A Dromader aircraft. The 2500 litre hopper on the Dromader makes it an economical alternative to the larger turbine powered AT-802's.
Dunn Aviation Bomber 268 now Bomber 608 on standby at Cessnock NSW October 2002
AT802F VH-EDG owned by Dunn Aviation on standby at Polo Flat NSW 2003 second from right
An M18A Dromader based at Bunbury Western Australia with a large fire burning in the background.
The Dunn Aviation Crew are off to work in January 2005 after a briefing from Conservation & Land Management Fire Operations personnel
Two Dromaders depart Jandakot Airport Western Australia for a fire
Pictures of the huge fire burning to the east of Perth Western Australia 2005 from one of the Dunn Aviation AT-802 aircraft, note the mushroom type smoke cloud at the top
Another picture taken from the AT-802
The Dunn Aviation fleet await dispatch directions Perth International Airport 2005
Four Dunn Aviation aircraft await takeoff clearance at Perth International 2005
Four Dunn Aviation aircraft await takeoff clearance at Perth International 2005
Dunn Aviation Operational Base at Jandakot Airport, Airtractor 802's EDG & ZED on standby for a fire callout.
Bomber 7, VH-ZED a single cab AT-802 was recently added to the fleet.
Dunn Aviation has recently gained in partnership with Pays Air Service NSW, a Summer Waterbombing contract in Europe. We have spent the last few weeks preparing two of our Airtractor 802's with radio, navigation and ferry equipment for the 72 hour flight from Australia to Europe.
Dunn Aviation provide two Fixed Wing AT 802 aircraft and crew for the Perth Metropolitan Basin based at Jandakot Airport in Perth.
Additionally we have two Fixed Wing aircraft based and crewed in Bunbury Western Australia, for the 2005/2006 Season we supplied an AT 802 and an AT 602 for fire suppression operations.
For the Manjimup and Albany operations we have two M18 Dromader and crew at each base for the summer months. With two spare M18 Dromader aircraft Dunn Aviation has the ability to provide unrivalled dispatch reliability to our clients
Pictured below is the Dunn Aviation fleet of aircraft parked at Ballidu Western Australia May 2005.
