A jet aircraft will touch down at Sydney’s new international airport for the first time at the end of the month, marking a historic moment for the $6 billion project as testing steps up a gear just over a year out from opening to passengers.

The NSW Rural Fire Service will land its Boeing 737 air tanker – named the Marie Bashir – on Western Sydney Airport’s new runway on October 28 as part of a multi-agency emergency exercise. The firebombing 737 will be used to test a full-scale response to a simulated aircraft emergency.

Western Sydney Airport is due to open to passengers late next year. Credit: Wolter Peeters

The exercise involving more than 100 first responders and about 300 volunteers will extend into the following day, and will test the new airport’s preparedness, response a

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