The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) in New South Wales (NSW), Australia, has received a new Airbus H125 helicopter, which will primarily be used to support the state’s preparation for and response to bushfires.
For its role, the A$5.6 million helicopter has been fitted with customised avionics, radios, a winch and other specialised operational and safety equipment. It joins four similar aircraft operated by ParkAir, the NPWS air wing.
The NSW government’s environment minister, Matt Kean, said: “We have increased the firefighting capacity of NPWS to record levels, and this aircraft will be critical in supporting those frontline NPWS staff to keep us safe and manage an ever-increasing parks network. It is critical NPWS has all of the tools it needs to adequately manage the parks estate and an elevated risk of bushfire.”
Alongside its role in bushfire management, which will include support for hazard reduction burns, the H125 will undertake other activities such as pest management, aerial baiting and weed spraying, and wildlife surveys.
