About SAU
The History of the State Aircraft Unit
Aircraft play an invaluable role in the Department of Sustainability and Environment's and Country Fire Authority's fire suppression activities. Aircraft have been used for fire management operations since 1925 when an Air Force Westland Wapiti aircraft was first commissioned for aerial reconnaisance by Forest Commission Victoria. Since this time both organisations have developed the use of aircraft for fire and land management, with each organisation coordinating their own fleet of aircraft.

On 1 August 2000 the Country Fire Authority (CFA) and the then the Department of Natural Resources and Environment (NRE) both signed the “Safe Forest Firefighting - CFA and NRE position paper”. With regards to aircraft the joint position was that:

  • CFA and NRE will establish a joint aircraft management unit;
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  • Any use of aircraft will be coordinated through the joint aircraft management unit, including
    any ad hoc use or casual hire;
  • CFA and NRE agree that only competent staff will be used in aircraft roles; and
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  • CFA and NRE agree that aircraft use will be based on operational priority after a consideration
    of the level of fire danger, community risk and existing resource commitments.
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    CFA and NRE subsequently agreed that the joint aircraft management unit would be known as the State Aircraft Unit (SAU). The primary objective in establishing the SAU was to create a “one stop shop” for all aspects of coordination and management of aviation resources and activities between the CFA and NRE.

    On 20th December 2001 the “Co-operative Agreement between the CFA and NRE” was executed, confirming the position taken previously regarding the sharing, use and management of aircraft.

    In 2002 the NRE was split into the Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) and the Department of Primary Industries (DPI). The DSE took over the aviation responsibilities previously held by the NRE.

    The State Aircraft Unit Today
    The SAU has built on the 80 years of aviation experience by previous agencies and now coordinates a large fleet of modern firefighting and support aircraft. Each year the SAU provides aviation resources for hundreds of fires. In the 2006/2007 fire season alone, the SAU coordinated aircraft for a combined flight time in excess of 8,700 hours.

    The SAU played a pivotal role in the suppression of the Great Devide fires of December 2006 and January 2007 which eventually burnt over 1.2 million hectares. The combined efforts of SAU aircraft and the hardworking firefighters of the CFA, DSE and assisting agencies, saved many townships in north-eastern Victoria and Gippsland.

    In addition to supplying aircraft for fire management, the SAU coordinates aircraft used in other DSE emergencies such as whale entanglements, and for various land management activities such as aerial seeding operations.

    The State Aircraft Unit Team
    The State Aircraft Unit comprises:
       
    Nick Ryan Manager, SAU
    Taina Scott Management Services Officer
    Hayden Biggs Innovation Officer
    Barry Scott Aviation Services Manager
    David Paton Aviation Support Officer
    Eain McRae Aviation Technical Officer – Audit, Analysis and Systems Review
    Bryan Rees Training and Safety Manager
    Graeme Briggs Aviation Equipment and Training Officer
    Adam Damen Technical Systems Specialist
    Guy Coward Systems Specialist Assistant
    Bruce Dymond Executive Support Officer
    SAU Annual Reports
    SAU Annual Report 2007/08
    SAU Annual Report 2006/07
    SAU Annual Report 2005/06
    SAU Annual Report 2004/05