Not new blades-new aircraft. Never thought I would need the hiviz option, so I saved a few pennies.

John,

Couldn't you just do a 337 minor mod form to change the paint scheme on the blades??

Griffo,

Can't find a smilie for LMAO. Reg 35 requirement in Aus, especially for Transport Class A, is a PITA of the first magnitude. Minimum cost would be >$A800 for the most simple of variations, expanding on an exponential scale. It was mooted to me that changing the paint scheme on the blades (ie putting red where the white was on opposite blades, and vice versa, to create a flickering effect) could unbalance the blades because of different paint weights, therefore would need extensive investigation :rolleyes:

So I've got the manufacturer's scheme, ineffective, but legal :mad:

Sheesh John, CASA have got you by the balls haven't they!!
Though about putting it on the NZ register, then doing a 337 to change the blade colour?? Sounds like it would be easier!! :\
Then all you'd need is a BK rated engineer with a kiwi licence (griffo dusts off ICAO type II with BK rating ;) )

To be fair, I don't blame CASA (at least not completely ;) ), but the delegation to Reg 35 approved persons, who can hold the operator to ransom with their interpretation of Regs, and the application thereof.

Plus the litigious nature of current times, whereby second guessing and backside covering has become an art form :rolleyes:

Must be the magic potion that John Sherlock downs twice every day that keeps the massuse coming back, as age is definatley not on his side anymore... or the spell the witch doctor cast on him the last time he was in the PNG Southern Highlands!!!:D :ok:

!!!!e John ...getting CASA approval would be a lot easier than getting a letter form the Queen Mum .... (now!)

:\ :ok:

I seem to have dropped on the right area to find out about fire fighting. I find myself between employment opportunities here in the uk, at the end of what freelance season there is.
I would like to know how to get in to firefighting. (I can hear the chuckles already). Could anyone point me in the right direction, I have done some fire fighting in a 350, I can fill the bucket and I did empty it in generally the right area so I'm not a complete novice. I have an engineering background, general lifting work on the Squirrel,a strong desire to do dirty work ( not coal mining) and will travel anywhere. Can any one help, answers on a post card please. Cheers.

Seems like still no news from AFAC. General consensus in the industry is that they are just like other Federal agencies, totally incompetent.

Was talking to RFS the other day and they were saying that they were asked for all their input when the RFP was being put together but when it came to the decision making they were conveniently left out, even though they will have to end up funding it all.

Circus run by a pack of clowns.

Anyone have any latest info on it.

:E

P.S. John any news from down your way.

Only rumour that 've heard is that it isn't likely to go ahead: Federal funding is looking shakey :rolleyes:

Then again, with effectively only one week to prepare submissions, the industry would have a fairly good case to arc up about any decision, regardless of whether it's right or wrong :(

painting blades
 

A little off the subject....but John's comments on painting blades got me thinking?

Have a look at www.rwas.com.au for discussions on blade painting among other things.

Autorotate,

One word sums it all up-"CLUSTERF*#K"

Dynamic Component,

I just spoke to RFS and seems like some decisions have been made but that was all they would let on, because they are in the contract negotiation phase.

My personal opinion is that they need to get the Federal involvement out and then leave it up to the State agencies, who just happen to have been doing it for a long time, and have been doing it pretty well compared to the screwup that AFAC have so far done.

Anyway just my two cents worth.

:E

Griffo,

How can you make the statement "It could be us, Ericksons, with the machine for Canberra" you are not at all involved in the contract signing, you are not an employee, you are a contractor. You would gain far more respect if you sat back for a while and engaged your brain before your mouth!!

captjohn99.9
 

I don't think any "statements"were made. Does the name pprune not have something to do with rumours??:hmm:

Rumour has it that Sikorsky have issued a memo changing the name of an item not commonly used or of much use on the S64 Skycrane.The common wingnut will now be known as a 'griffo'

Hey guys, how come this thread now starts with personal insults. Just because Griffo made a comment that some of you dont like, cant see the point in lowering standards and insulting him. It is after all a rumour forum.

Arent we all professionals.



:E

Griffos Mouth
CaptJohn is quite right this Griffo character does have a mouth problem with his comments you would think he was in the office in Medford, he proberly has never been to Medford.
He works as a "A white Sri-lakan" as we used to call them employed by Erickson Malaysia with no contract no benefits no nothing,
Griffo wait till the next down turn and you will be dropped like a hot spud
-Oh and if you are a still a little confused as to your status in the Erickson regeme call Ron Smith and I am sure he will let you know where you stand. :ok:

Lets get back to the origanal topic. The Ozzy fire season is right ontop of us and we have still not heard anything with regards to contracts etc.:confused:
Any NEW news out there?

Dynamic Component - Here is an edited version of an email sent to one of the head honchos at AFAC. Needless to say they are continuing with their SOP, and ignoring everyone.


--------------

I have sat back and watched the efforts of AFAC regarding the recent RFP for the upcoming fire season and have to say that never have I seen such a display of arrogance by a quasi Federal agency. I have not said anything until now, however the recent email sent from AFAC, saying that "if we havent contacted you, you havent won the contract" is the most arrogant attitude I have ever seen, and I have now decided that we are going to do an indepth article at the way you have handled this RFP.

It was AFAC that demanded operators, including many from overseas, submit completed proposals for the upcoming fire season, in a totally unrealistic time frame. Now, after those deadlines have come and gone, and gone, and gone, a lot of operators cant even get anyone at AFAC to return their telephone calls. I know for a fact that my own Australian Editor has been ignored when asking for comment.

You owe it to the operators who spent a lot of time and effort working on their proposals, a decent explanation as to why they weren't successful, if that was indeed the case.

You owe it to the industry to keep them up to date on what's going on. If you are having trouble getting the funding, then have the decency to explain it to those that deserve to have it explained.

I will tell you, catergorically, that the reputation AFAC has generated for itself leaves a heck of a lot to be desired, if the feedback I am getting from operators, both in and out of Australia, is anything to go by. You told me on the phone you are trying to make AFAC the Australian version of the NIFC in the United States. Well there is a big difference, they have the support of the industry, and unless you do some serious damage control immediately I would not like your chances of getting the industry's support come next fire season.

Anwyay the choice is yours, but we will be having a serious look at the way this has been handled and the arrogance shown by AFAC to operators, media and other interested parties.
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:E