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10-17-2002, 02:38 AM
Wednesday, 16 October 2002 - Two Erickson Air Cranes are expected to land at
Sydney Airport this afternoon (Thursday) to boost the State’s aerial
firefighting resources for the summer bushfire season, Emergency Services
Minister Bob Debus said today.
Mr Debus said the Georgia Peach and Incredible Hulk were returning to New South
Wales after their initial tour of duty – along with the Elvis helitanker -
during the Christmas bushfires.
“The helitankers are expected to be ready for duty as of Saturday,” he said.
“The Air Cranes are being transported to Sydney in a giant Russian Antonov cargo
aircraft, which is expected to touch down at Sydney Airport early this
afternoon.
“They are coming from Italy, where they have been used to help fight European
fires, while their sister Air Crane have been deployed to assist in the huge
operation to contain the American forest fires which caused such massive
destruction earlier this year.”
The flight and support crew for the helitankers include a pilot, co-pilot and
engineer for each aircraft and a ground crew of two additional engineers plus
re-fuelling and firefighting foam specialists.
The Air-Cranes will be reassembled on arrival to re-fit the rotor hub, blades,
under carriage and belly tank, which are removed for transportation.
“The process of assembling the helitankers and performing the necessary
engineering and safety checks will begin as soon as they are unloaded,” Mr Debus
said.
This process is expected to take about 20 hours, after which the Air Cranes will
be flown to Bankstown Airport, where they will be primarily based during the
bushfire season.
The Air Cranes each can drop 7500 litres of water. Their tanks are fitted with a
fast self-fill snorkel that allows them to hover-fill from a variety of water
sources in 45 seconds. They are also fitted with a snorkel so they can fill from
salt-water sources during forward flight in 30 seconds.
Mr Debus said the enormous cost of transporting the two aircraft by air and
basing them in Sydney had been divided between the NSW and Commonwealth
Governments, with Sydney Airport Corporation Ltd also waiving its landing fees.
“We are facing another severe fire season. The Air Cranes are a massive
investment in assisting our firefighters to protect lives and property,” he
said.
“These machines each cost around $24,000 a day in lease fees and $11,000 an hour
in operating costs.
“They are an important addition to our firefighting resources, performing a
valuable support role to the more than 100 aircraft already available and the
thousands of firefighters who work so hard and bravely to battle the flames on
the ground.”
For more information (Please note this is for MEDIA INQUIRIES ONLY):
Media contact: Kate Meagher 0418 424 654 October 17, 2002
NB: For details on the Air-Cranes’ arrival, please contact Rural Fire Service
media on 9898 1855.
Sydney Airport this afternoon (Thursday) to boost the State’s aerial
firefighting resources for the summer bushfire season, Emergency Services
Minister Bob Debus said today.
Mr Debus said the Georgia Peach and Incredible Hulk were returning to New South
Wales after their initial tour of duty – along with the Elvis helitanker -
during the Christmas bushfires.
“The helitankers are expected to be ready for duty as of Saturday,” he said.
“The Air Cranes are being transported to Sydney in a giant Russian Antonov cargo
aircraft, which is expected to touch down at Sydney Airport early this
afternoon.
“They are coming from Italy, where they have been used to help fight European
fires, while their sister Air Crane have been deployed to assist in the huge
operation to contain the American forest fires which caused such massive
destruction earlier this year.”
The flight and support crew for the helitankers include a pilot, co-pilot and
engineer for each aircraft and a ground crew of two additional engineers plus
re-fuelling and firefighting foam specialists.
The Air-Cranes will be reassembled on arrival to re-fit the rotor hub, blades,
under carriage and belly tank, which are removed for transportation.
“The process of assembling the helitankers and performing the necessary
engineering and safety checks will begin as soon as they are unloaded,” Mr Debus
said.
This process is expected to take about 20 hours, after which the Air Cranes will
be flown to Bankstown Airport, where they will be primarily based during the
bushfire season.
The Air Cranes each can drop 7500 litres of water. Their tanks are fitted with a
fast self-fill snorkel that allows them to hover-fill from a variety of water
sources in 45 seconds. They are also fitted with a snorkel so they can fill from
salt-water sources during forward flight in 30 seconds.
Mr Debus said the enormous cost of transporting the two aircraft by air and
basing them in Sydney had been divided between the NSW and Commonwealth
Governments, with Sydney Airport Corporation Ltd also waiving its landing fees.
“We are facing another severe fire season. The Air Cranes are a massive
investment in assisting our firefighters to protect lives and property,” he
said.
“These machines each cost around $24,000 a day in lease fees and $11,000 an hour
in operating costs.
“They are an important addition to our firefighting resources, performing a
valuable support role to the more than 100 aircraft already available and the
thousands of firefighters who work so hard and bravely to battle the flames on
the ground.”
For more information (Please note this is for MEDIA INQUIRIES ONLY):
Media contact: Kate Meagher 0418 424 654 October 17, 2002
NB: For details on the Air-Cranes’ arrival, please contact Rural Fire Service
media on 9898 1855.