What is the cost of setting up the National Police Air Operations Control Room ?
Central dispatch? What do they think they are running... a taxi firm?
Failings of a state wide central command of forces has been detailed in Victoria's Royal Commission into Feb 7th bushfires.
In general the new thinking is for autonomous local decision making rather than centralised control.
I accept that there is a big difference in scale between dispatching 50,000 volunteer firefighters with 3000 vehicles, and control of 25 choppers!
But the principle remains the same. Network rather than hierarchical management enabling autonomy of local crews is a far more effective approach to respond to rapidly developing local incidents.
Mickjoebill