As the world pays attention to the major bushfires happening along the East Coast of Australia, Bristow Defence Industries (BDI) has quietly supported the Republic of Singapore Air Force’s Oakey Detachment, based in Oakey, Queensland, in its preparation to deploy two RSAF’s CH47Ds from Oakey to Royal Australian Air Force Base East Sale, located 220 kilometers southeast of Melbourne, Victoria.

The RSAF Detachment will join the fleet of Australian Defence Force’s MRH90s and CH47Fs plus New Zealand’s Air Force’s NH90s in carrying out resupply missions, transportation of emergency services personnel and evacuation of civilians from affected townships that have been or is being devastated by the fires.

Although BDI has not deployed any staff with the RSAF Detachment, its personnel were busy supporting pre-deployment activities like refueling of aircraft and the preparation of Life Support Equipment and Ground Support Equipment/ Aviation Ground Equipment for deployment. BDI worked closely with RSAF’s Oakey Detachment personnel to ensure all aircraft and equipment were in good operational state and ready to deploy when the detachment departed on January 6, 2020. BDI will continue to provide backend support from Oakey, as and when required throughout the period the Detachment remains in East Sales.

On behalf of Bristow, all of us at BDI wish the Oakey Detachment a safe and successful mission. As Australians, we thank the Government of Singapore and RSAF for providing this support to Australia.