Review of aerial suppression effectiveness research literature

Aircraft are an important and costly component of bushfire suppression operations. Most decisions related to 
the application of aircraft at bushfires are based on anecdotal experience as there is little quantitative data and 
knowledge of how they are used and how effective they are in the Australian context, particularly for large 
fires. The Natural Hazards Research Australia and CSIRO Why fly? How do we know that aerial firefighting 
operations are effective and efficient? project was established to address these concerns and is a focussing on 
aircraft that drop retardants and suppressants. This literature review has been undertaken to document the 
pertinent research relevant to the Why fly? project.