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Real-time aerial data helps Australia beat bushfires

25-03-2010 - Fire-spotting aircraft in Australia are using real-time data to protect lives and property after devastating bushfires killed more than 170 people last year.

Victoria's State Aircraft Unit (SAU) has deployed SwiftBroadband as a new approach to fire fighting following the catastrophic events of February 2009.

An exceptional heat wave and changes in the direction of gale-force winds created massive, unpredictable fire fronts - the worst bushfires in Australia's history.

Real-time images
Now commanders at 43 incident control centres can see real-time infra-red, video and stills images of bushfires sent via Thrane & Thrane Aero SB-Lite terminals from the SAU's Super King Air B200 and Cessna 404 Titan planes. The Aero SB-Lite services are provided by Inmarsat partner TC Communications.

The terminals are approximately half the size and weight of traditional satellite communications equipment, opening up the service to small-to-mid-size aircraft.

"The system has also been designed to allow for remote access to fire data which means we can assist other regions with their fire fighting capabilities," said SAU technical systems specialist Adam Damen.

'Huge success'
"We recently sent one of our planes to Tasmania to assist with a small bushfire. We were able to fly down, transmit the data and fly back to the mainland without ever having to land the plane - a huge success both in terms of the cost of the mission and the capability provided."

Previously, SAU transferred fire data during flights via radio modems. But with the arrival of new planes, flying speeds were faster than the communication system. Pilots were forced to circle radio sites until transfer was complete, or land and deliver it via USB.

David Coiley, Inmarsat's aeronautical business director, said: "The solution provided by TC Communications is the perfect example of how Inmarsat and SwiftBroadband benefits a much greater range of aircraft operators than has ever been possible with previous generations of satellite services."

TC Communications

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