After ten years and $300+M what did the NSCA Victorian Division actually accomplish???
Was sitting back sipping coffee and making a list of the advances in Aviation / EMS that the NSCA brought to the Australian people.
A few notable disciplines that I can remember:
• Introduced ME IFR EMS/SAR to Victoria, then to NSW, QLD, NT and briefly to WA.
[All CHC Civil and Military SAR / EMS should thank old Fredo for that hard work – as when the NSCA was exposed and crashed, CHC took over a set of disciplines that they or Australian GA did not possess, including the actual airframes, staff and equipment].
• Fire bombing for the Victorian Government: B205 / B212 / B412’s
• Fixed Winged Firescan: Kingair’s [Today that is a current summer contract to some lucky FW operator].
• Submarine Rescue Vehicle: now with the Royal Australian Navy
• Survivor Location Pigeon [as in Birds] Identification Program: Now being developed by the United States Air Force.
• Search and Rescue Dog’s: Now being developed by every Australian State Police Force.
• Military Search and Rescue: Due to the RAAF “selling” their Helicopters to the Army, particularly the early series of Night “Auto” hover LN450 systems.
Can anyone else think of any other discipline that a dedicated group can accomplish when “funds” are not an issue [sounds like our current military].
