Helicopter Fire-fighting (Merged threads)

[Savoia]

Blue Mountain Mayor says: Buy Skycranes

Blue Mountains mayor Mark Greenhill said the Skycranes had been ''a godsend'' in last month's bushfire crisis, when 200 homes were destroyed and has said ''we ought to own a sufficient amount to meet what seems to be an increasing threat.''

Fairfax Media understands it costs $1.5 million to hire one Skycrane for 12 weeks. The cost of buying one new is estimated at $30 million to $40 million.

Time to buy air-crane helicopters: Blue Mountains mayor