Aerial firefighting organisation Transall Tankers and technology company Tabula have partnered to integrate live fireground intelligence capability into the Transall C-160 aerial firefighting platform.
The integration of Tabula’s FireVision platform will combine live fireground mapping, thermal imaging, aerial asset tracking and operational intelligence with the heavy-lift capability of the C-160 aircraft platform.
The partnership announcement comes as bushfire agencies globally continue facing increasing pressure from larger, faster-moving and more complex fire events, particularly across remote and regional environments where access, visibility and coordination remain major operational challenges.
Transall Tankers continues progressing through the certification and approvals process required before the aircraft can enter operational service in Australia.
Once operational, the integrated system will provide aerial crews and incident management teams with near real-time visibility across the fireground, stated the announcement, supporting faster operational decision-making, improved crew safety and more effective coordination between air and ground resources during active bushfire operations.
“Modern aerial firefighting is no longer just about dropping water or retardant on a firefront. It’s about delivering real-time intelligence, visibility and coordination that supports faster and safer operational decision-making,” said Transall Tankers Founder and President John McDermott.
“The integration of FireVision into the Transall Tankers platform forms part of our broader objective to develop a firefighting capability specifically designed for the realities of remote, regional and complex fireground environments.
“The aircraft have undergone extensive flight evaluations and operational development work, and our focus remains on progressing the approvals required to bring this capability into operational service.”
The FireVision platform integrates with Lab 308 infrared imaging systems and Helitak firefighting tank technology to provide operational capability including:
- thermal imaging overlays
- active fire edge visibility
- drop zone guidance
- hazard identification
- aerial asset tracking
“FireVision has been developed to provide firefighting operators and incident management teams with greater visibility and operational intelligence during active incidents where timing, coordination and situational awareness are critical,” said CEO and Executive Chairman Michael Whittaker of Tabula, a company that has gone global from beginnings in New Zealand.
“By integrating FireVision into the Transall Tankers platform, crews and incident management teams will have access to near real-time fireground intelligence designed to support improved coordination and more informed operational decision-making.”
Transall Tankers currently has four C-160 aircraft in its fleet, with one aircraft fully prepared for deployment once certification is complete and another in the final stages of modification for firefighting operations.
Equipped with Helitak FT Series tank systems, the aircraft have a design carrying capacity of 14,500 litres and are designed to refill rapidly from regional locations where water sources are available, helping reduce reliance on major bases and supporting faster return-to-operation capability.
The Transall C-160 aircraft were selected for their ability to operate in rugged terrain and access regional and remote airstrips unsuitable for larger fixed-wing firefighting aircraft.
Be the first to comment