Bushfires.
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: on the ground
Posts: 381
Originally Posted by andrewr
More likely, the amateur receivers that feed FlightAware are turned off or have no internet connection.
https://www.flightradar24.com/FSCN125/2368baec
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Currently: A landlocked country with high terrain, otherwise Melbourne, Australia + Washington D.C.
Posts: 394
Originally Posted by havick
There’s a lot more requirements to getting a gig dropping wet stuff on fires than simply getting an ag rating. Have to need all the client/NAFC pilot requirements on top of what ever operators want.
Last edited by Okihara; 4th Jan 2020 at 17:26.
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Europe
Posts: 1,182
Not a pilot but I live in a country with a number of CL-215/415. I need to point out currently there is no production line for CL-415. There are thoughts about a 515 and the Japanese have an aircraft suitable but I am not sure about production capacity. For Australian size the Be-200 is much better due to higher speed and water scooping capability.
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 3,237
Originally Posted by Okihara
That shouldn't be the prevailing attitude in that regard right now, methinks.
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Newcastle Upon Tyne
Posts: 914
I am suprised to read that company who own the 747 Supertanker in Colorado have been in contact with Australian officials and say they are ready to go if they are needed ? I would have been down this avenue weeks ago.
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Oz
Posts: 1,314
The issue is how they got so big in the first place...Because we don't, as a nation have sufficient assets to stop small fires becoming big fires.
I live in regional Vic and I’ve barred this lot from entering my property. They wanted to backburn near my property in November but as I’m now aware of at least 20 incidents last year alone where they poorly executed these projects resulting in large uncontrolled mess. 3 years ago they did this near my land, and it got out of control and came within 500m from my fenceline. I work in a job where SOP is king. We follow the checklist. We are trained regularly and checked. These guys do not. There is no order and no accountability or investigation when things go south.
There is many flaws that currently exist in Fire Service and Parks Management. I guess rolling political musical chairs hasn’t helped as no minister is held responsible let alone has any sort of knowledge for the industry.
The PM Media firestorm is great for ratings and all sells newspapers but did a little deeper to see where the real issues stem.
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Australia
Posts: 223
Originally Posted by kev_laline
There is a simple reason the fires are so big.
One word - FUEL.
One word - FUEL.
https://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2019-...fires/11817336
People hate to hear it but climate change is a significant factor. Fires are going through areas that were cleared not long ago and even re-crossing burnt areas multiple times. The heat, humidity and drought are burning with a ferocity that is igniting the whole forest from to to bottom in one hit. Hazard reduction achieves nothing in those circumstances.
Hazard
reduction burns are being done but the window of opportunity to do these is continually shrinking. Look at the time of year these fires started.
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Australia
Posts: 1,082
Originally Posted by RickNRoll
You are simply wrong. This is a more complex take on the problem.
https://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2019-...fires/11817336
People hate to hear it but climate change is a significant factor. Fires are going through areas that were cleared not long ago and even re-crossing burnt areas multiple times. The heat, humidity and drought are burning with a ferocity that is igniting the whole forest from to to bottom in one hit. Hazard reduction achieves nothing in those circumstances.
Hazard
reduction burns are being done but the window of opportunity to do these is continually shrinking. Look at the time of year these fires started.
https://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2019-...fires/11817336
People hate to hear it but climate change is a significant factor. Fires are going through areas that were cleared not long ago and even re-crossing burnt areas multiple times. The heat, humidity and drought are burning with a ferocity that is igniting the whole forest from to to bottom in one hit. Hazard reduction achieves nothing in those circumstances.
Hazard
reduction burns are being done but the window of opportunity to do these is continually shrinking. Look at the time of year these fires started.
Put simply, do you want a big fire or a small one?
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Australia
Posts: 223
Originally Posted by currawong
Would you rather be in / adjacent to an area that had hazard reduction or an area that did not at present?
Put simply, do you want a big fire or a small one?
Put simply, do you want a big fire or a small one?
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Australia
Posts: 1,082
Originally Posted by RickNRoll
That wasn't a simple question, it was a rhetorical question with a simple premise for a complex problem. Read the link I provided.
Your rhetorical question was addressed with a Royal Commission after Black Saturday.
Here is a warning on the subject from a year ago.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-02-...ZCRGnYvcbGEJ24
Last edited by currawong; 5th Jan 2020 at 08:48.
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: .
Age: 23
Posts: 100
Originally Posted by Okihara
Did the bushfires make anyone think of getting an ag rating? Might be a bit late for this season, but for subsequent ones?
I suspect in years to come most of the fire-fighting pilots in Australia will be from overseas, as the 1,000 hours of Ag isn’t required of them - or maybe CASA will make a Fire-Fighting Rating that bypasses Ag ?
