The government of Western Australia has committed funds to acquire a large air tanker (LAT). The State plans to use $11 million over four years to contract for a LAT to be based in Western Australia for three months each year. It would be available from December to March, when the State is most vulnerable to the threat of bushfires.

In a major boost to WA’s aerial firefighting fleet, the LAT will be based at a yet to be determined local airport.

This will be the first time that WA has contracted for a LAT. In recent years they have relied on available aircraft through the National Aerial Firefighting Centre.

During most of the 2020-2021 bushfire season, for the first time a large air tanker, a Coulson C-130, was based in Western Australia for most of the 2020-2021 bushfire season. And during the 2019-2020 bushfire season an Erickson MD-87 was deployed in the state for 45 days.

In addition, LATs from the eastern side of the country have on a number of occasions taken the 3,000-mile trip to assist in WA during periods of extreme fire danger or when help was needed for specific fires.

A several LATs were utilized during a challenging 2021-22 bushfire season that included four major fires that occurred simultaneously in February. They played key roles to slow the spread of bushfires and helped firefighters protect lives and homes. The contracted national LAT performed 76 drops totalling 984,557 litres of retardant this summer while borrowed LATs from other States performed 41 drops totalling 460,964 litres of retardant.

The addition of the LAT strengthens WA’s aerial fleet after the acquisition this summer of two Black Hawk helicopters on a three-year contract.

“Having a LAT exclusively for Western Australia – for the first time – provides a major boost to the State’s firefighting capability and reduces the reliance on national aircraft availability,” said Stephen Dawson, Emergency Services Minister for WA.

Thanks and a tip of the hat go out to Gerald.