The Why Fly? Assessing the effectiveness of aerial firefighting research project will apply a statistical and geospatial analysis over the data contained within the Arena database, which houses nearly 10 years of data.
Interested in the NAFC Procurement process? Visit our Tenders page for further information.
The National Aerial Firefighting Fleet comprises approximately 150 contracted aircraft ranging from Large Air Tankers to helicopters and light fixed-wing aircraft.
The National Aerial Firefighting Centre (NAFC) provides a cooperative national arrangement for the provision of aerial firefighting resources for combating bushfires. NAFC coordinates the procurement of a fleet of highly specialised aircraft that are readily available for use by state and territory emergency service and land management agencies across Australia.
This emergency aviation fleet is 85% Australian owned and registered, with Australian industry providing this sovereign capability, using Australian based crews, airbases and maintenance facilities.
The larger aircraft fill a valuable role by protecting communities and natural habitats globally, and their complementary contracts with US, Canadian, and European agencies are arranged under Australian partnerships to bring aircraft here in time for the Australian summer.
NAFC also plays a key role in ensuring the sharing of aerial firefighting resources between emergency service and land management agencies throughout Australia, alongside colleagues in the National Resource Sharing Centre (NRSC). This includes the development of consistent aircraft contracts, national protocols, and systems for aerial firefighting, including ARENA.
Additionally, NAFC facilitates national groups of agency subject matter experts in the fields of aviation safety, research and development, and business improvement. This provides a forum for states and territories to share information, evolve national processes, and discuss matters of national importance.
The National Fleet and NAFC activities receive funding support from the Australian Government, by way of the NAFC Grant Agreement. The states and territories fund most of the costs associated with aerial firefighting.
Partnering with experts from Australia’s general aviation industry, these collaborative arrangements for the national aerial firefighting fleet have been instrumental in protecting communities and saving lives and property over past bushfire seasons.
NAFC and NRSC are business units of AFAC – the National Council for fire and emergency services in Australia and New Zealand.
