National aerial firefighting strategy
The Need
The current National Aerial Firefighting Strategy (August 2002) is in need of revision. There are a number of aviation innovations that need to be considered in a revised strategy.Benefits and Strategic Alignment
The strategy will be used by member agencies that deploy aircraft. It will also inform national policy makers on the future directions of aerial firefighting. It will determine future direction for the NAFC Board.A national strategy will provide direction to member agencies on the future use of aircraft.
Proposal
The current strategy will be reviewed and a draft revised strategy will be produced. The project will commence in January 2010 and will prepare a final strategy by February 2011.The review will consider the appropriate scope and content for the revised strategy. The scope may need to be expanded to include all aerial operations that support fire management. The results of the large air tanker trial will need to be included in the revised strategy.
The current strategy is a joint product of the former DOTARS and AFAC.
The key milestones for the project are:
25 February 2010: Present project plan to NAFC Board
March 2010: Review current strategy and produce a list of updates, inclusions and exclusions
April 2010: Consult with key stakeholders on scope and content of strategy
26 May 2010: Agree and approve format and scope for new strategy, NAFC Board
22 October 2010: Prepare draft strategy for consultation and approve its release, NAFC Board
December 2010: Review comments received and distribute second draft
February 2011: Prepare final strategy for Board approval
Progress on the project will be reported to:
- The AFAC Wildfire Aviation Technical Group,
- Rural and Land Management Group
- AFAC Council
- AFAC Committee of Management
- The NAFC Board
Consultation
The strategy will be driven by AFAC but will have extensive involvement of NAFC and its staff. The Commonwealth Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government and Attorney Generals Department will be consulted. A working group from the Rural and Land Management Group has been formed and includes:- Gary Featherston, AFAC Manager Rural and Land Management
- Richard Alder, NAFC General Manager
- Andrew Graystone, Parks Victoria
- Rob Sandford, CFS SA.
The group will work with the Wildfire Aviation Technical Group on the content of the strategy.
Governance
The Rural and Land Management Group have commissioned the project and will endorse the draft strategy during 2011. The final strategy will be approved by the AFAC Council and the NAFC Board.
For more information on this project contact Gary Featherston, AFAC Manager Rural and Land Management.
