Air Tanker to Make History as First Jet landing at Western Sydney Airport
Sydney, Australia – October 26, 2023 – A Boeing 737 air tanker, named The Marie Bashir, is scheduled to become the first jet aircraft to land at Western Sydney Airport on October 28, marking a critically importent milestone in the airport’s final testing phase before its official opening. The arrival of the large aircraft will be a key component in familiarizing emergency services with the new airport precinct.
The historic landing comes as testing intensifies following the completion of the airport’s runway and terminal. The new Western Sydney Airport, years in the making, is designed to alleviate pressure on Sydney’s existing airport and provide increased capacity for both passenger and freight services. This initial jet landing is not a typical commercial flight, but a crucial operational exercise involving emergency service partners to ensure full preparedness.
According to airport officials, the exercise will serve to familiarize emergency service personnel with the layout and procedures of the brand-new Western Sydney Airport (WSI) precinct. federal Transport Minister Catherine King confirmed that testing is now escalating as the airport nears its operational launch.
The Marie Bashir is a specialized aircraft used for aerial firefighting, and its participation in the landing exercise will provide a realistic scenario for emergency response teams. The aircraft is credited to Nick Moir.
