Coulson Aviation has been contracted again in 2025/26 by the Federal Government to provide two Large Air Tankers (LAT) in Western Australia, based at Busselton Margaret River Airport, 220 kilometres south of Perth. The aircraft may be deployed elsewhere in Australia if required.
Dunn Aviation Australia provides Air Tractor AT-802/AT-802A and AT-602 fixed-wing water bombing aircraft for the Western Australian Government. Its aircraft are also contracted out to other states to perform firebombing and agricultural duties. Based at Jandakot, Albany, Bunbury, Esperance, Manjimup and Northam. BOMBERs are managed by the Western Australian Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA).
C-GVFK / BOMBER 164 Avro RJ85 AT of Conair – arrived at Busselton 24 Jan 2026. Photo to be added.
N382CG / BOMBER 138 Lockheed C-130H Hercules of Coulson Aviation. National Large Air Tanker – deployed to Western Australia when needed. Photo to be added
N130CG / BOMBER 140 Lockheed C-130H Hercules of Coulson Aviation – photo to be added
Air Attack FIREBIRDs coordinate aerial firefighting operations, circling high above firefighting aircraft. FIREBIRD 623, 661, 662 and 663 are managed by the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES). Other FIREBIRDs are managed by Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA).
N82MD / FIREBIRD 663 Eurocopter AS365 N3 Dauphin 2 of McDermott Aviation (N38MD also using same callsign)
HELITAK
Fire fighting helicopters operated under management of the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES). Sikorsky UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters with 4,500 litres capacity are contracted from United Aero Helicopters, based at Serpentine Airfield. Bell 214 helicopters with 2,700 litres capacity are contracted from McDermott Aviation, based at Jandakot Airport and Busselton Airport.
N460UH / HELITAK 668 Sikorsky UH-60A Blackhawk – photo to be added.
N517MB / HELITAK 669 Sikorsky UH-60A Blackhawk – photo to be added.
Beech 200 King Air aircraft fitted with infra red line scanning equipment. Scans fire areas and provides live intelligence, including fire mapping, to ground incident control crews. Scanning is conducted high above the fire area, by flying fixed patterns well above air attack traffic. The line scanner is able to see through smoke and show terrain, streams and roads, to pinpoint fire edges, burnt areas and spot fires. King Air VH-LAB of Air Affairs Australia Pty Ltd performed this role from the 2019/20 to Septermber 2025. VH-ZMP/FIRESCAN 126 arrived at Jandakot on 21 October 2025 from Nowra via Essendon, Ceduna and Kalgoorlie for the 2025/26 season.
VH-ZMP / FIRESCAN 126 Beech Super King Air 200 operated by Air Affairs Aviation Pty Ltd (owned by Astra Aerospace Pty Ltd) at Jandakot Airport, Western Australia – 29 November 2025. Operated under contract to the Western Australian Government for the October 2025 – April 2026 bushfire season. Arrived at Jandakot on 21 October 2025 from Nowra via Essendon, Ceduna and Kalgoorlie for the 2025/26 season. Fitted with infra red line scanning equipment. Scans fire areas and provides live intelligence, including fire mapping, to ground incident control crews. Scanning is conducted high above the fire area, by flying fixed patterns well above air attack traffic. The line scanner is able to see through smoke and show terrain, streams and roads, to pinpoint fire edges, burnt areas and spot fires. This aircraft was previously based in Western Australia with Skippers Aviation at Perth Airport from 1994-2000 and Karratha Flying Services from 2000-2001. MSN BB-259 built in 1977 ex VH-LKB, VH-APA, VH-NIB, (ZK-CMO), N14SU, N3786J, YV-114CP.
BIRDDOG
Fixed-wing aircraft used primarily for air attack supervision. Faster twin-engined BIRDDOGs are used to lead the Large Air Tankers and guide them on where to release their fire retardant.
VH-CGX / BIRDDOG 681 Quest Kodiak 100 owned by Helicopter Logistics, at Jandakot Airport, Western Australia – 10 March 2024. MSN 100-0181 built in 2016 ex N181KQ. Operated under contract to the Western Australian Government on firefighting operations during the hotter months for air attack supervision.
VH-AQL / BIRDDOG 682 Gippsland GA8 Airvan operated by Helicopter Logistics Pty Ltd – photo to be added
N550CG / BIRDDOG 698 Cessna 550 Citation II of Coulson Aviation (at Busselton 27 Dec 2025 – 10 Jan 2026) – photo to be added.
SPOTTER
The Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) uses American Champion 8GCBC Scouts as fire spotter aircraft for forest patrols in the south-west of WA, flying across areas set according to fire weather conditions. They fly more during the hotter months (about 3,500 hours) due to the increased fire risk. They also supervise waterbombing operations in the south-west, relaying information on fire behaviour to fire controllers. Aircraft rotate around bases at Jandakot, Bunbury, Dwellingup and Manjimup. SPOTTERS are managed by DBCA, which holds the Air Operators Certificate (AOC).
Air Attack call signs are fire agency designations for air attack supervisor platforms, and the call signs remain unchanged regardless of whether the actual airframe is changed. The Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) frequently rotate their Scout fleet around the various bases, so their AIR ATTACK callsigns change, but their SPOTTER callsigns remain unchanged. AIR ATTACK platforms are managed by DBCA.
David Eyre 
