Helicopters Australia wins $25m contract

[Sundance76]

Media release published on ABC online;Thursday, 1 February 2007. 13:31 (AEDT)Thursday, 1 February 2007. 12:31 (ACST)Thursday, 1 February 2007. 12:31 (AEST)Thursday, 1 February 2007. 13:31 (ACDT)Thursday, 1 February 2007. 11:31 (AWDT)

Govt unveils helicopter patrol for northern Australian waters
The Federal Government says the new rapid response helicopter that will patrol the Northern Territory's northern coastline could be used further west.
The Minister for Justice and Customs, Senator Chris Ellison, is in Darwin today to announce Helicopters Australia has been awarded the $25 million tender and the aircraft is expected to be in the air by early next year.
Senator Ellison says it will be based mainly out of Darwin, not Gove as previously thought.
He says it could have broader surveillance reach than the Territory.
"It'll be spending a lot of its time in Gove of course, because that's where the threat is, where the past landfalls have been," he said.
"So really that whole area is covered by the service and that's the contract that we have. In fact, this helicopter service could even be used in the north-west of Australia."

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Would this be what the new Customs B3 would be 4?:}

[MPT]

G'day DC,

I think you have your companies confused, easy to do with "Australian Helicopters", Helicopters Australia" and "Heliaust", among other "Aussie" company names:confused: .

The Darwin contract is "Helicopters Australia" (read Helicopters NZ) with, I believe, a BK117 initially while they are waiting on their EC145.
The AS350B3 in Customs colours AFAIK is replacing the B206L4 as the backup ship for the B412 on TI for "Australian Helicopters" (read Reef/Marine merger).

Cheers,

MPT:confused: :confused:

[topendtorque]

No intention of highjacking the thread but while we are talking about OZ companies

The other day BSousa asked a question, why aren't there more fuel dumps across OZ?

Two answers to that ,
1. It's so damm far and remote and the xcountry flights so infrequent that it's much better to organise per trip.
2. Soooo many people in OZ seem to need the fuel more than the guy that put it there, so far the only thing it's not used for is sniffing.

But wait, there's more, and whilst talking about NT operators it's a pertinent time to copy the latest attack upon aviation. - as below.

MEDIA RELEASE

DR RICHARD LIM
OPPOSITION SPOKESPERSON FOR CENTRAL AUSTRALIA
18th January 2007 07/07

NT GOVERNMENT INACTION GROUNDS TENNANT CREEK

The Country Liberal Party is demanding the Martin Labor Government step into the breach created by Shell’s decision to no longer supply jet fuel at the
Tennant Creek Airport.

“When critical community services such as the Royal Flying Doctor Service and Police Airwing are adversely impacted the Government is obliged to act,” says
Dr Richard Lim, Opposition spokesperson for Central Australia and a former pilot.

“The Transport Minister, Delia Lawrie, should immediately enter negotiations with Shell to ensure there is at least one tanker filled with jet fuel at the
Tennant Creek Airport.

“The Flying Doctor and the Police Airwing need to be able to fly in and fly out of Tennant Creek at will and that will not be easy without a permanent supply of jet fuel at the airport.

“There is no excuse for Government inaction putting the health and safety of the residents of Tennant Creek at risk.

“The absence of a permanent supply of jet fuel also prevents other commercial operators using turbine operated aircraft from factoring in Tennant Creek
Airport as an alternate airport in emergency situations.

“Taking Tennant Creek out of the equation, means that jet fuel operated
aircraft will have to carry greater fuel loads and less paying passengers and
freight, further driving up costs and may even make other Territory air
services no longer viable.

“Equally, the absence of a permanent supply of jet fuel is obviously hampering the Territory Government’s efforts to attract a regular passenger service to Tennant Creek.

“The Minister for Transport, Delia Lawrie, says she’s looking at ways to encourage companies to take on the routes but Tennant Creek hasn’t had a scheduled passenger flight for nearly half a year. The lack of jet fuel will further limit the range of operators looking at Tennant Creek to consider aircraft using AVGAS only.

“Having engaged an aviation consultant early in its first term, the Martin Government has presided over the steady decline in commercial and other passenger air services in the Territory.

“It’s time to reverse that trend.”


Contact: Dr Richard Lim 0418 897 688

Those who are planning the usual coast to coast via Tennant should do some homework. Whether the card bowser will still be filled, I know not!
tet

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Oops,

Bad Ozzy Informant:= :ugh: