Another Skycrane for the Australian Fire season
This was posted on the ABC News website today.
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The Federal Government has announced an extra $2.5 million to help bring a third Elvis-type helicopter to Australia to help fight bushfires this summer.
The National Aerial Fire Fighting Centre already receives money from federal, state and territory governments to bring two other similar aircraft from the United States each summer.
The Minister for Local Government, Jim Lloyd, says the federal contribution is just over $5 million.
He says the third helicopter could be based in Canberra.
"We currently have two of those Erickson sky cranes on the way to Australia, one is going to be flown over from the US, the other one is on a ship," Mr Lloyd said.
"Those two are normally based in Melbourne and one in Sydney. This additional funding will allow the third one to be based possibly in Canberra, but that's a matter for the Aerial Fire Fighting Centre."