It's a shame that the VIC government think that way. It is that kind of thinking that will create a pathway to another "Black Saturday". There is much more potential for disastrous fire incidents at the moment when compared with times of drought due to the intense levels of fuel available. When this summer is in full swing, watch the DSE incident page and just see how much risk there is. We are certainly rubbing our hands together for the coming season. It has already started in NSW where we have already flown more hours than the last three seasons combined. At least we are ready!

Fires have many millions of dollars to do with Australian Civil Aviation. Where do some of these moderators come from????

The DC-10 always struck me as a political knee-jerk reaction in order to give the impression of taking action following the Black Friday bushfires in 2009 , and no they never dropped in anger in Victoria , only some pattern testing around Fiskeville from memory in order to obtain some impressive PR footage .... they've been bombing fires O/S for years so hardly needed more testing .

Aerial fire fighting is a very State based system , with each state running their own individual program and mix of fixed / rotary wing fleet on contract plus others on adhoc/standby , then operating said fleet in a most Government-like way , which is to say it's run by OH&S lawyers which usually destroys any hope of real productivity .

Plenty of good people flying the various machinery tho'.

Oh and very well said Harley D as usual.