The New South Wales Rural Fire Services procedures required an air attack supervisor (AAS) when 3 or more aircraft were deployed to a fireground. However, there was:
The NSW RFS has established processes to ensure that aerial supervision arrangements are assessed regularly, giving consideration to the complexity of the fire and the number of aircraft tasked to the area. The ATSB also welcomes the introduction of the Aviation Centre of Excellence and the further training opportunities this provides, along with the increased surveillance activities through the aviation safety management system.
In addition, the ATSB welcomes the implementation of the Operational Procedure Guideline that provides guidance for what should occur when the AAS is required to depart the fireground.
To strengthen aerial supervision, the NSW RFS established 5 permanent air attack supervisor (AAS) positions in 2024. These roles provide continuity, professional development, and surge capacity during periods of high operational tempo.
An instruction issued in November 2023 (and remaining current) specifies the following AAS requirements:
The instruction further directs that the state air desk (SAD) liaise regularly with the air operations manager (AOM) and the AAS responsible for operations involving 3 or more aircraft to confirm that aerial supervision arrangements remain appropriate.
These discussions are to occur at least each morning, with outcomes formally recorded, and must consider:
This instruction reinforces that aerial supervision in NSW RFS operations already scales dynamically in accordance with operational complexity, proximity, and environmental conditions – rather than relying on fixed numeric limits.
An Aerial Supervision Operational Procedure Guideline (OPG) was developed to define supervisory scaling based on aircraft numbers (span of control no more than 9 aircraft) and operational complexity, including clear handover procedures for when an AAS must depart the fireground. This OPG was finalised and approved on 25 November 2025.
The Aviation Centre of Excellence has also introduced simulator-based training to rehearse supervision under stress, tactical handovers, and cross-agency coordination. These training scenarios replicate mixed fleet operations and degraded communications environments to build proficiency in maintaining situational awareness and control.
Post-implementation reviews conducted during the 2024–25 fire season confirmed clearer role delineation, more predictable scaling, and enhanced supervision quality across aerial operations.
AAS performance and fatigue data are now routinely reviewed under the aviation safety management system (ASMS), with outcomes reported through quarterly aviation safety committee meetings. A focus group representative attends these meetings to provide updates on AAS activity, performance metrics, and fatigue management data, ensuring continuous oversight and integration of operational learnings into future planning and assurance processes.
