Australian states and territories that engage in Large Air Tanker (LAT) operations have developed their own separate standard operating procedures (SOPs) for LATs and aerial supervision assets. This can result in safety requirements being omitted or misunderstood by the different tasking agencies, such as a minimum drop height, resulting in inconsistencies in the development and application of LAT SOPs.
The ATSB acknowledges the commitment to safety action by the Australasian Fire and Emergency Services Authorities Council through the National Aerial Firefighting Centre Strategic Committee. The ATSB will monitor the progress of the Aviation Safety Group in the development of national LAT SOPs and will re-assess the safety issue once completed.
On 24 September 2024, the Australasian Fire and Emergency Services Authorities Council advised the ATSB that the safety issue was accepted through the National Aerial Firefighting Centre Strategic Committee. The National Aerial Firefighting Centre Strategic Committee has delegated the action to address the safety issue to the Aviation Safety Group, and it falls within the purview of the Consistent Doctrine working group.
Update: 21 May 2025
Work has been progressing on the National Large and Multi-Engine Air Tanker Standard Operating Procedure. After a comparison between existing doctrines and a gap analysis conducted in the Dec 2024-Mar2025 period, an initial document has been drafted. This document includes a suggested standard procedure and documents where inconsistencies in doctrine currently exist, including where Australian State and Territory, United States Forest Service, and Alberta (Canada) Provincial Airtanker procedures currently differ. This initial draft of the document was sent out to the members of the Consistent Doctrine working group of the Aviation Safety Group on 12 May 2025, with feedback requested to be returned by 31 May 2025.
Once the feedback has been collated, the next steps are planned to be:
NAFC will advise ATSB when the document is at a stage where it can be shared. It is intended that the document be finalised before September 2025.
22 May 2025
The ATSB acknowledges the update to this safety issue provided by AFAC/NAFC and will continue to monitor.
