AUSTRALIA: A large air tanker has crashed while performing routine firefighting operations in New South Wales, with the loss of all three crew members.
When it comes to debate over climate change, you won’t find Ray Cronin lining up with the sceptics. As boss of specialist aviation group Kestrel, he has seen first hand how the influence of climate change has grown year by year to produce what is one of the few true growth ‘industries” in the helicopter sector: fighting fires.
New South Wales has signed a contract with United States-based Coulson Aviation to purchase three aircraft for firebombing duties, including a modified Boeing 737 large air tanker.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has begun investigating the crash of an Erickson Aircrane helicopter that was fighting bushfires in Victoria.
Victoria emergency management commissioner Andrew Crisp says the crash of an Erickson Aircrane while fighting bushfires has led to the type being grounded across Australia while the cause of the accident is investigated.
The NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) is receiving two ex-Australian Army Sikorsky Black Hawk helicopters to support its emergency services work. The role of the two helicopters would be to fly emergency service personnel to bushfires, floods and other disasters across the state, Federal Minister for Law Enforcement and Cyber Security Angus Taylor, NSW Treasurer
