Apologies is this is off thread, but thought you guys might know, Vas ist das? as below. ABC web news.
New Customs chopper lands in Top End
Posted 5 hours 7 minutes ago
Updated 5 hours 8 minutes ago
Illegal foreign fishermen, and drug, weapon and people smugglers are set to come under greater scrutiny across Northern Territory and Queensland waters with the unveiling of a new fast and powerful helicopter today.
It weighs over 2,000 kilograms and can carry 10 people at speeds of up to 400 nautical miles.
For the next two years it will be on standby in Nhulunbuy in north-east Arnhem Land at a cost of $12 million and will respond to threats along the remote coastline from Darwin to Weipa.
The Federal Minister for Home Affairs, Bob Debus, says it may also be used for emergency rescues and quarantine and environmental initiatives.
An land and sea management organisation in Nhulunbuy, the Dhimurru Aboriginal Corporation, has welcomed the new helicopter.
"We think this great news," says Dhimurru CEO, Steve Roeger. "We have all been concerned about the incursions along Australia's border in the north and seeing Customs increasing its capacity, being able to more effectively do the work that it does, is good news for us,"
The Territory's commercial fishing industry has also welcomed the arrival of the helicopter.
"It's not fair that we should have to operate alongside foreign vessels that are illegally fishing our waters," says Australia Bay Seafood's Bill Passey.