[Peetwo]

SOPs the era of Su_Spence and Popinjay to the rescue -  

Courtesy of PJ's media minions...  

National standard operating procedures for large air tankers after 737 firebomber accident investigation
Published: 29 Jul 2026

National standard operating procedures have been introduced for large air tanker firefighting aircraft, including minimum drop heights, addressing a safety issue identified by the ATSB in its investigation of a Boeing 737 firebomber accident in south-west WA in 2023.

On 6 February 2023, a Boeing 737 large air tanker impacted a ridgeline on rising terrain after completing a drop during a bushfire-fighting task in the Fitzgerald River National Park.

Fortunately, the two pilots on board survived the accident. The aircraft was destroyed in the collision and post-impact fire.

The ATSB’s final report into the accident, published in November 2024, identified several safety factors which contributed to, or increased risk in, the accident.

Among these, the investigation highlighted how Australian states and territories had developed their own separate standard operating procedures for large air tankers engaged in firefighting operations.

“The investigation found differing standards between jurisdictions could result in safety requirements being omitted or misunderstood by the various tasking agencies, such as a minimum drop height,” ATSB Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell said.

“This resulted in inconsistencies in the development and application of large air tanker standard operating procedures (SOPs).”

In response to this finding, the Australasian Fire and Emergency Services Authorities Council committed to develop national large air tanker SOPs.

These SOPs have now been collaboratively developed, endorsed and adopted by all Australian fire agencies, through the National Aerial Firefighting Centre (NAFC).

Version 1.0 of the SOP document was published on the NAFC website (here(Opens in a new tab/window)) on 30 June 2026.

“This document represents a new national standard for large air tanker operations in Australia, with clear requirements for aerial supervision, task profiles and communication protocols,” Mr Mitchell said.

“Large air tankers, which can quickly move around the country in response to operational need, play an increasingly critical role in the management and suppression of bushfires in Australia.

“As such, the implementation ofnational air tanker standard operating procedures represents a significant milestone in the ongoing maturity of the aerial firefighting safety system in Australia.

“We welcome the introduction of these national SOPs and acknowledge the high level of collaboration and consultation required by all stakeholders responsible for their development and implementation.”

Read the Safety Issue description: National Large Air Tanker standard operating procedures


Read the ATSB’s final report from November 2024: Controlled flight into terrain involving Boeing 737-3H4 Fireliner, N619SW, Fitzgerald River National Park, Western Australia, on 6 February 2023

 
Hmmm...how come PJ and the ATSB don't mention the national aviation safety regulator CASA? Su_Spence and her motley crew of supposed aviation safety experts (including the dodgy assed Craig Martin who ended up working for Coulson as it's COO) apparently ticked off on the AOC approval of Coulson and oversaw all national Firefighting operator AOCs?

MTF...P2

PS Craig Martin - Bruce Rhoades: 

Glen Buckley: 

Craig Martin's Involvement

• The Role: Craig Martin served as CASA’s Executive Manager of Regulatory Services and Surveillance.
  
• The Allegations: During his multi-year fight against the regulator, Buckley formally called on the CASA Board to investigate several senior figures for misfeasance. In public statements and correspondence archived on aviation safety advocacy networks like AuntyPru, Buckley named Craig Martin (alongside other senior executives like Graeme Crawford and Will Nuttall) as a key official responsible for oversight actions that destroyed his flight academy. [1]
  

 
Croc Wrangler: 

Craig Martin was the executive manager of the regulatory oversight division for Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) whose dealings came under scrutiny following the investigation into Helibrook, an aviation company owned by celebrity "Outback Wrangler" Matt Wright. [1, 2]

The connection between these entities centers on regulatory approvals and the legal fallout from a fatal 2022 helicopter crash. [1]