Night Aerial Reconnaissance Trials Conducted in Queensland

Airview Fire Recon (AFR), in partnership with Elite Helicopters, successfully completed a series of night aerial reconnaissance trials in Queensland at the request of the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES).

Conducted over several nights in November 2019, the trials were designed to evaluate the viability and operational effectiveness of night-time aerial intelligence in support of bushfire response operations.

Operating from an Elite Helicopters “Firebird” platform, the AFR team carried out multiple night reconnaissance missions, utilising advanced thermal imaging technology to monitor fire activity after dark. Mark Wigglesworth, AFR General Manager, conducted airborne sensor operations during the trials, overseeing the capture and transmission of live imagery.

Throughout the missions, real-time thermal video feeds transmitted successfully from the aircraft to ground-based teams and directly into QFES Headquarters in Kedron, providing continuous situational awareness during night operations.

Wigglesworth explained in a Channel Seven news interview how the trials demonstrated the significant potential of aerial reconnaissance capability beyond daylight hours, including:

• Enhanced visibility of fire behaviour using thermal imaging

• Continued monitoring of firegrounds overnight

• Improved situational awareness for incident management teams

• Real-time intelligence delivery to support operational planning

  
  

While aerial firefighting at night has not yet been formally approved, initiatives such as these trials play an important role in establishing the operational framework, procedures, and confidence required to support future capability development.

The collaboration between AFR, Elite Helicopters, and QFES represents a proactive step toward expanding the role of aerial intelligence in bushfire response—particularly as fire seasons become longer, more complex, and increasingly demanding on resources.

AFR looks forward to continuing its work with emergency services to advance safe, effective, and operationally proven night-time aerial reconnaissance capability.