Tassie shark-patrol helicopter set for Adelaide

[Heliport]

ABC News Online Tassie shark-patrol helicopter set for Adelaide

Sea rescue authorities in Adelaide are set to take delivery of a custom-built Tasmanian helicopter for shark patrols.

A Tasmanian company has built the Squirrel helicopter in a million-dollar project, initiated by the Adelaide business community and surf lifesaving groups, after a shark attack earlier this year.

The helicopter is equipped with an aerial platform and rescue pod, and is capable of winching three people to safety at a time.

Rotor Lift Helicopters managing director Roger Corbin says two Adelaide pilots have been conducting trial flights in Tasmania this week.

"It's very successful for a very fast extrication of people from the surf or water onto the beach, where they can then be dealt with by surf-lifesaving or medics on the beach," Mr Corbin said.

The helicopter is due to fly to South Australia on Saturday.

[Ned-Air2Air]

Well well, looks like Corbin has found another way to screw joe public.

Once someone has been munched on what the hell is this special custom built "Tasmanian" helicopter going to do.

Maybe Mr Chibbs will be the dude on the bottom of the rope on the hook, and and the dynamic duo will sweep in and scoop the struggling maiden from the jaws of the Great White. :ok: :ok: :ok: :ok:

[Nigel Osborn]

I think you will find this"Tasmanian" helicopter is a AS 350 that Corbin bought from SLSQ Sunshine Coast last year. It is fitted with a SLSQ designed 50 ft static line attached to the cargo hook in a neat pod for surf rescues. It is surprisingly effective & very simple. It was chosen over the normal winch as rescues from the surf tended to shock load the winch cable in the surf.:O

[badbreath]

going to be based ,and why is it coming from Tasmania there are a few operators in Adelaide who im sure could have supplied a squirrel if asked..Interesting comment about corbin who is he.

[gyro gearloose]

badbreath

If you think the sharks in SA bite, then standby for the one that can put the bite on you with even more vigour!

I'm sure there will be ppruner's that have a constructive comment about Dodgy Rog, but thats in the past and he may have turned over a new leaf! :}

Whole thing sounds like a rort to me........ play in a pitbulls back yard and expect to be bitten on occasion!

But hey, thats just my opinion, and it ain't worth much....

:ok:

[badbreath]

Thanks for that ,found out who he is now..still seems a shame it couldnt have gone to an Adelaide operator to supply a Helicopter

[Pappa Smurf]

Surf rescue.
What--- They think Adelaide beaches are the Bonzi pipeline or something.Cant see it getting much use in the calm gulf waters.
Be an expensive way looking for sharks as well seeing its been done in the past by light aircraft.
The Noahs Ark the other day was 5k off shore.Its winter time and beaches are deserted,hence no one would be doing patrols anyway.Last years was a fare way offshore as well-----water ski-ing.
The memory is going but i cant seem to remember anyone being eaten while swimming at the beaches.Plus there are no rips etc like coastal beaches on the edge of oceans .Divers and surfers yes but in the majority of cases down on the south coast and over on the west coast, where they wouldnt patrol anyway.

Only useful thing out of it ,it will give a couple of pilots work--thats a plus.

[movin' on]

Anyone know if this machine ever flew in anger or was it just another Corbin lead media exercise?:E

[topendtorque]

Yes it is rather surprising that Mr Vice-like didn't have one on tap right there with everything that goes up and down incl a collective. He does come from Adelaide doesn't he?
TET

[RWJackOfAllTrades]

What an incredible waste of time, money and effort!!! Sounds as bad as that fixed-wing organisation based out of Wollongong on the NSW South Coast who purport to be saviours from the sky doing beach patrols to keep people safe and the sharks at bay. They fly over a section of beach for a few seconds per day and think that's it, jobs done, waters are safe again people. Thank us later. :yuk:

Unless the machine hovers 10hrs a day at 25ft AGL over the one spot and scares all and anything in the water away (including swimmers!!!), it sounds like a great way to get rich for someone, in this case Roger Corbin...whoever the hell he is. Perhaps they'd be better off using a winch with a Billy Pugh Net to drag the remains from the water once the poor vicitm of the 1-in-a-10 year-shark attack-occurance takes place. Better still, instead of saving just 3 people at a time, why not buy a B214B...that way, you could extricate up to 40 odd people at a time. Might be a bit cramped at the end of the long line, bet hey, who cares about being squashed up against the big fat hairy greek guy for the sake of being lifted from the water before you bleed to death!!!

It truly boggles the mind what some peopel come up with!?!:ugh: