14 December 2007

Skycrane arrives in Canberra for Bushfire Season

| Jazz
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Got this media release though yesterday :

Attorney-General Robert McClelland has today welcomed the arrival of
an Erickson Skycrane helicopter to assist in the ACT region’s
firefighting capability.

“These aircraft have a proven track record and are a welcome addition
to our emergency management capacity for the bushfire season,” Mr
McClelland said.

“The use of aircraft for aerial firefighting has grown in Australia
over recent years. Water bombing aircraft are now a very visible
feature of firefighting operations each fire season, particularly at
rural-urban boundaries where they can provide rapid and effective fire
suppression.”

The Canberra-based Skycrane is one of four available in Australia for
the bushfire season, and forms part of the Australian Government’s
commitment of $41.2 million over four years to assist the States and
Territories to fund firefighting aircraft.

“Since its implementation, the initiative has allowed for at least 32
aircraft to be contracted through the National Aerial Firefighting
Centre in the 2007-08 season, an increase from the 25 available last
season,” Mr McClelland said.

“Aircraft offer three major advantages over ground-based firefighters;
speed, access and observation. We have seen this effectively
demonstrated just recently in the Kangaroo Island bushfires.”

The Skycrane helicopters are currently based in NSW, Victoria and the
ACT and will be repositioned to other operational areas as required.

“These national arrangements are an example of Australia’s
firefighting and land management agencies working together to provide
greater community fire protection,” Mr McClelland said.

Media Contact: Tom Cameron 0417 147 932

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Well most of the aerial fire suppression is provided by commercial companies in Australia already. ACT is mostly provided by Heli Aust (http://www.heliaust.com.au/index.php?menuoption=Operational Scope&PHPSESSID=umnem318t7bghkmrgdn17fg4ln8oi1i3#)
And as someone who occasionally gets to ride in one of these, I rather it was in the hands of profesionals.

They’re politicians, not business brains.
Their job is (as far as they see it) to lie to us and look honest, not make shrewd business decisions.
Thats why they have consultant friends.

I agree with flyingblind although I would rent them out to fund their activities when they are needed here.

I pity the government that cannot work out the only reason why things are being rented to it is because somebody has realised they can turn a profit from the agreement.

Sounds reasonable andym, however i failed in my post to add ‘as a country’ seems sensible to me to buy\operate with commercial sponsorship (for budget reasons) a fleet of suitable aircraft and crews to assist all year round with bush fires or even when the winter months are upon us they can assist in ground crew familiarity/training etc etc, I’m sure the lists long and others would have a better idea as to how these machines could be employed all year round.

Australia is a bloody big place and I’m sure everybody would want their share of these national assets once word got out.

If not, send em overseas to help out during the American/European fire fighting season.

Or is this too simple an idea for the bureaucrats to manage.

why dont we buy and operate our own aerial fire fighting machines?

Well simple economics really. Its cheaper to contract pilots, support personal and machines for 4-5 months a year rather then pay all year.
Same reason Southcare is rented, not bought.

Good to see we have these assessts, heres a thought,why dont we buy and operate our own aerial fire fighting machines?

How many times do we have to tell you firies – hot stuff – wet stuff…

Just Jokes (:

Sorry…wasn’t yelling I promise 🙂 The skycranes have their own bases within Australia for the summer but can be sent anywhere at anytime depending on where the RFS want them – particularly the Canberra machine. The skycranes will move back to their bases in Europe and the US when the season is over.

Regarding the comment “As far as I can tell from public news footage, Kangaroo Island is still burning – how is this an effective demonstration ?”

The amount of smoke coming off the fires causing poor visibility has made it difficult to attack this fire from the air.

It’s sent anywhere.. it’s not specifically for the ACT. It’s here as part of the national firefighting contract that the Federal government pays for. It just lives here as it’s a good base for south-east NSW.

el ......VNBerlinaV810:50 am 15 Dec 07

OK, THAT’S GOOD TO KNOW. PS I THINK YOUR CAPS LOCK KEY MIGHT BE STUCK SO IT LOOKS LIKE YOU’RE ‘YELLING’ ALL THE TIME.

KTHXBI.

RE – “It’ll probably be here for a week and then piss off up to Sydney – just like it did last year.”

COMMENT – THE MACHINES ARE SENT WHEREVER THE FIRES ARE.

THE CANBERRA-BASED SKYCRANE WENT TO HELP ON KANGAROO ISLAND (14 DEC) AND TAKE OVER FROM THE MELBOURNE MACHINE WHICH HAD TO GO BACK TO ITS BASE.

Were any Kangaroos harmed? We’ve got plenty of spare ones here that I’m sure the Dept of Defence would be happy to donate to Kangaroo Island.

Negatory… Mr Thumper… I just happened to be there yesterday and got the low-down from a local…

I think the Kangaroo Island fire is contained … it is surrounded by water after all. I was there yesterday and it is burning in parkland and they are expecting rain tomorrow…

It just flew over Civic on it’s way West: probably back to Kangaroo Island?

As far as I can tell from public news footage, Kangaroo Island is still burning – how is this an effective demonstration ?

I say fly the bloody thing back to South Australia and finish the job.

It’ll probably be here for a week and then piss off up to Sydney – just like it did last year.

There’s not much left to burn on the Western side of Canberra for some reason.

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