McDermott Aviation to expand regional aerial firefighting operations
The Australian natural disaster response provider is set to enhance the country’s aerial firefighting capacity with the planned introduction of three Transall C-160 fixed-wing aircraft
McDermott Aviation has announced plans to introduce three Transall C-160 fixed-wing aircraft – pending approval from the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) – to strengthen Australia’s firefighting capabilities in remote and challenging terrain.
According to Founder and President John McDermott, the C-160’s high-wing configuration, long-range endurance, short takeoff and landing capability, and heavy-lift capacity make it operationally efficient for missions in rugged and remote environments. Unlike larger fixed-wing aircraft that must return to major bases to reload, the C-160 can safely land and refill on regional air strips closer to the fire scene.
“These aircraft are built for tough jobs in tough places,” said McDermott. “They’re part of our broader strategy to grow our fleet, scale our international footprint, and bring new technology to the front line of firefighting both at home and overseas, including Europe and North America.”
The aircraft, which arrived in Australia two years ago, have undergone modification and retrofitting in preparation for operational deployment. Central to this transformation is the integration of a fixed-wing tanking system, co-developed with Queensland-based Helitak Fire Fighting Equipment.
The Helitak FT Series tank, custom-built for the C-160, delivers up to 14,000L of water or retardant with a fast three-minute refill and has been specifically designed to meet the demanding conditions of Australian firefighting.
“This is a major step forward not just for McDermott, but for the industry and the global communities we support as extreme weather events increase,” McDermott said. “We’ve worked closely with Helitak to develop a lightweight, rugged, high-performance system that delivers precision, power, and safety exactly where it’s needed – on the front lines of fire season.”
McDermott noted that retardant would be carried in powder form and added: “As long as there is a water source, we will be able to refill and be back in the air in approximately 10 minutes, making the addition of these aircraft an incredible asset to our fleet.”
Final CASA certification for the tank system is currently underway. Once approved, the aircraft will be fully operational, with McDermott Aviation aiming to have all three C-160s mission ready ahead of the 2025/26 fire season.
“We believe this capability will dramatically change the way we fight fires – especially in remote or rural regions that cannot support the logistics of larger fixed-wing aircraft,” McDermott stated.
Helitak CEO Jason Schellaars commented on the collaboration: “To design and deliver our first fixed-wing tank system for such a capable aircraft is a milestone.”