Conair Aerial Firefighting Dash-8-Q400MR C-FFQE Arrives into Bundaberg Airport for the 2024 Bushfire Season - Plus More!

On Sunday 1 September, Canadian-based Conair Aerial Firefighting Dash-8-Q400MR C-FFQE was noted arriving into Bundaberg Airport ahead the upcoming Queensland bushfire season. It touched down direct from Melbourne (Avalon) where it has been stored since February.

https://www.facebook.com/Bundaberg.Aviation.Fuel

This is the fifth (and final?) year that the Canadian aircraft and crew members of the Large Air Tanker (LAT) have been deployed to Bundaberg Airport, meaning the state will again not have to borrow aircraft from other states to fight dangerous bushfires.

Again this year, the Dash-8 will be based at Bundaberg Airport and take up the radio callsign of "Bomber 141".  It will be based in Bundaberg for Queensland’s bushfire season and will be sent to Victoria again for its fire season, which coincides with Queensland’s wet season.

The Dash-8 has a 670km/h travel time meaning the bomber can quickly reach other parts of the state if needed, potentially saving lives and communities all over Queensland. It is able to fly the 300-kilometre direct journey from Bundaberg to Brisbane in 30 minutes at top speed.

Also arriving into Bundaberg Airport for the Bushfire Season, also on Sunday 1 September, was Agair Logistics P/L Gulfstream Aerospace (AeroCommander) 695-A JetProp 1000 VH-LMC "Birddog 125" which was noted arriving into Bundaberg Airport from Stawell in Victoria.  It is assumed that it will again provide airborne support for C-FFQE during this coming bushfire season.

Meanwhile, also on Sunday 1 September, North Queensland Warbirds 1969-built Beech H18 VH-MBU flew down from Cairns to Roma Airport.

Port Macquarie Helicopters / Graham Aviation (Cairns) Cessna 510 Citation Mustang bizjet VH-8DD visited Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport to Port Macquarie.

Of interest, the first Jetstar Australia flight connecting Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) Airport to Adelaide took off also on Sunday 1 September, with Airbus A320 VH-YXS operating the first JST842/3 from Adelaide to Prosie and back to the Sount Australian capital.

And LifeFlight (Aeromed) Canadair CL-600-2B16 Challenger 604 bizjet VH-OFA "Ambulance 614" visited Longreach Airport from Brisbane.  It also visited Mackay Airport from Brisbane but on Saturday 31 August.

Finally, on Saturday 31 August, Hughes Aviation (Hughes Pastoral Group) (Gympie) Pilatus PC-12//47E NGX VH-8HP flew from Tierawoomba to Blackall and Keeroongooloo and then on Sunday morning, it flew on to Ayers Rock.  During Sunday afternoon, it flew back East to Tumbar Station and Blackall then back West to Ayers Rock.