Originally Posted by
Lead Balloon
My comment: “[L]et's hope the ATSB comes up with some 'takeaways' that folks flying for the airlines will consider relevant.” was in response to Lookleft’s suggestion that this is the first loss of a transport category hull in Australia and that was the justification for ATSB to investigate, notwithstanding that there were no fatalities and it was a known risky kind of operation with nothing to do with transport of passengers or cargo. This aircraft might have started its life as certified in the transport category, but that ended as soon as it was modified to be and was then operated as a LAT.
It seems fairly obvious they are referring to the design intention of the aircraft. According to Coulson, the Fireliner has around 70 pax seats in it so even though it might operate under General Aviation (?) it is still intended for and capable of air transport to and from fire tasks. As opposed to Air Transport. It may not be used for airline or other transport category operations however it's still an airliner. A modified airliner. A modified air transport aircraft. Regardless of what it now self-identifies as, it's still a B737-300 which was conceived, designed and manufactured as a transport category aircraft. So there you go!