Microsoft Flight Simulator adds NSW RFS water‑bombing mission

World Update 21: Australia for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 arrived alongside Sim Update 5 and is available as a free download for owners on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, Steam, Xbox on PC, Xbox Cloud Gaming and via Xbox Game Pass. The update adds more than 30 photogrammetry cities, six new airports, 36 handcrafted points of interest, Discovery Flights and new activities including landing challenges, rally races and a Bush Trip focused on remote flying.

The update includes a playable mission created with the New South Wales Rural Fire Service (RFS) that lets players conduct water‑bombing runs over New South Wales. The RFS, which comprises roughly 40,000 volunteers, manages bushfires and responds to structure fires, vehicle accidents, storms, floods and search operations across the state.

Assistant Commissioner Jayson McKellar, Director of Aviation for the RFS, noted the limits that affect aerial firefighting operations. “Aircraft are effective but they operate within clear limits,” he said, pointing to reduced visibility from smoke, turbulence from fire behavior, difficult terrain, pilot fatigue and the need to coordinate airspace and ground crews. He emphasized that safety determines whether aircraft will operate at an incident.

The RFS deploys a mix of aircraft depending on the fire. Large air tankers, including converted Boeing 737s and C‑130 Hercules, are used on large or fast‑moving fires where ground access is limited; they lay long retardant lines and return to bases with loading facilities to refill and receive new tasking. Helicopters perform high‑volume water‑bombing on major fires and handle reconnaissance, crew transport and targeted drops in hard‑to‑reach areas.

McKellar described the role of lead or “birddog” aircraft in coordinating tanker drops. Those planes fly ahead to assess conditions, find safe flight paths and guide tankers to targets while communicating with incident management teams and ground crews. He added that aircraft support is combined with ground crews, heavy machinery and volunteers during firefighting operations.

Training and simulation form part of the RFS aviation program. The service opened an RFS Aviation Centre of Excellence at its State Training Academy in Dubbo, New South Wales, which houses four simulators for personnel to practice procedures and emergency scenarios. McKellar said realistic scenarios — changing winds, reduced visibility from smoke, multi‑aircraft operations and congested airspace — help crews improve decision‑making and communication without exposing them to real danger.

World Update 21 also refines regional landmarks, mapping, weather and lighting to better reflect local conditions. The RFS advised residents to prepare a bushfire survival plan, clear gutters and trim vegetation, and to use official resources such as the Hazards Near Me app and the RFS website for current incident information.