Australia’s CH-47D Chinook has carried out France’s first nighttime waterbombing sorties over the Landes, expanding aerial firefighting operations at Mont-de-Marsan with a heavy-lift helicopter able to drop about 11,300 litres of water after dark. The aircraft is deployed with Coulson Aviation under a New South Wales Rural Fire Service programme and has been operating in support of fires in southern France.
The Chinook began operational sorties over the Luglon fire on 14 August and was later used in night operations over the fire zone on the night of 17-18 August. France’s usual fixed-wing firefighting fleet, including Canadair CL-415s and Dash 8 aircraft, stops flying at dusk, leaving a gap the helicopter can cover.
A Bell 412 from the same Australian contingent supports the Chinook by marking targets and carrying a smaller water load, improving coordination during night missions. The two aircraft were originally announced for deployment in early August and are expected to remain in France until the end of September.