Originally Posted by
Skillsy
It wont be available over the next month at least so there is a gap in the fire fighting support effort.
There's enough capacity in the country to fill the gap, the LATs in Vic aren't getting a workout at the moment if the recent snow is any indication.
Also 139 was the National LAT, "Phoenix", it was positioned in WA due to higher fire danger there relative to the east coast after the flooding and benign summer but there was no guarantee it would be in WA for the whole season.