Airport Chief Executive Justin Giddings said Avalon had several advantages including its easy access to all parts of the state as well as having a dedicated apron for the DC-10-30 aircraft to be housed.

“Within minutes of getting a call the plane can be in the air and ready to have a major impact on Victoria’s fire-fighting capabilities,’’ he said.

Victorian Premier John Brumby said Victoria would be the first Australian state to trial the effectiveness of the large waterbombing plane in the firefighting effort.  

“There has never been a greater effort to make our state as fire-safe and as fire-ready as possible, with communities across Victoria putting in a massive effort to prepare,” Mr Brumby said.

“Our Government and emergency service agencies are rolling-out unprecedented new resources and measures for the largest-ever firefighting effort. This is being backed by record funding for our emergency services.

“Large aircraft that can carry up to eight times the water or retardant of smaller firefighting aircraft are untrialled in Australian conditions and Victoria will lead the way in testing their ability to help fight fires in the peak of this fire season.”

The DC-10-30 will be housed at Avalon Airport. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) will start final compliance assessments of the aircraft so it is ready for use from early January.

The aircraft can hold about 45,000 litres of water at a time. Class A recycled water will be used wherever possible. Fire chiefs will determine where and when the aircraft should be deployed.