Safety issue
| Investigation number | AO-2025-013 |
|---|---|
| Safety issue description |
Coulson Aviation Australia did not have requirements to ensure pilots had adequate recency in high skill degradation tasks such as aerial firefighting bucketing operations. |
| Issue number | AO-2025-013-SI-01 |
| Issue owner | Coulson Aviation Australia |
| Transport function | Aviation: General aviation |
| Issue status | Closed – Adequately addressed |
| Date issue released | 06/10/2026 |
| Issue status justification |
Coulson Aviation Australia has updated its training procedures to address pilot recency. |
| Issue finalisation date | 09/09/2026 |
Safety action
| Action type | Proactive action |
|---|---|
| Action number | AO-2025-013-PSA-03 |
| Organisation | Coulson Aviation Australia |
| Action description |
Coulson Aviation Australia, in collaboration with the NSW RFS, has enhanced its pilot recency and competency program by providing dedicated Thursday morning recency flight opportunities. The training and checking system has also been revised to require a minimum one-hour external load (bucket operations) recency flight within each 90-day period, supported by enhanced ground-based training incorporating greater technical content on aircraft systems. In addition, Coulson Aviation Australia’s operational risk profile for external load operations has been revised to specifically incorporate vortex ring state (VRS) and settling with power and degradation of pilot skills as hazards associated with aerial firefighting operations. This ensures these risks are formally identified, assessed and managed through the organisation’s operational risk management framework. |
| Action status | Closed |