I have been using aircraft to assist in control of wildfire and to manage prescribed burning for 21 years in South-eastern Australia

I first experienced the Airvan in Feb 2004 when I trialed it for use as an aerial platform for fire detection, observation, mapping and air attack platform. I concluded from this operational trial that the aircraft was eminently suitable for all 4 tasks.

The particular advantages included:

• Good climb and forward speed to reach the search area,

• Excellent low speed flying to enable detailed search and mapping,

• Excellent manoeuvrability at all speeds

• Excellent vision from the convex windows

• Flexible seating format that can carry up to 5 observers so making the aircraft suitable for multi-agency operations as well as eminently suitable for training and mentoring of new people.

• Endurance longer than any persons bladder capacity

• Plenty of room to do my work inside the cabin without getting hot and bothered or feeling cramped.

• Crew transport capability to move up to 6 firefighters with personal equipment.

• Capable of take off and landing on short and rough rural airfields.

This fire season has been busy and the Airvan has performed all that has been requested in crew transport, detection, mapping and air attack. I used the aircraft from Latrobe Valley as our early morning and late evening reconnaissance and mapping platform for the Moondarra Fire and it is in a word ‘excellent’ for wildfire control use on all land tenures.

Geoff PIKE,

Air Operations Manager,

Gippsland Region,

Department of Sustainability and Environment.