A shout out to readers. Early this month I heard Andrew Wilkie – Tassie Fed MP ask a question in QT suggesting the RAAF should operate large air tankers. I think Minister Dutton canned the notion. Recently I heard Jon Dee on TV news also raise the issue. Have readers heard of any other people advocating in public in favour of RAAF involvement?
Below here 8 previous blogs back to 2013 where I said the RAAF should operate large air tankers.
NE NSW fires – were large aircraft working last night? 9Oct19
Vic Govt hits back at firefighting critics – ignores huge fuel reduction issue 5Mar19
NSW winter bush fires mostly free hazard reduction 17Aug18
Albany fires reason for RAAF large tankers 25May18
Tathra bush fires needs Royal Commission 20Mar18
Why not the RAAF to operate large air tankers? 13Dec17
95 homes lost at Yarloop – is it time for large water bombers to be managed by the RAAF ? 8Jan16
Tasmanian bushfires report says according to ABC news – agencies not prepared – confusion between police and fire service. – Who would have thought so ? 18Oct13
Did you see this at the SMH?
Bushfire crisis demands a rethink on defence’s role in national disasters
Some quotes. [A greater defence role might require additional personnel with specialist skills with defence running aerial assets including drones and air-traffic management in fire zones.]
and [Prime Minister Scott Morrison recently announced an additional $11 million for the National Aerial Firefighting Centre. This would only cover a limited extension of some existing aircraft leases. And, as former senior air force officer Peter Layton has noted, a national fire-fighting fleet “would gain large economies of scale in terms of cost, staffing and training systems. The very long-term requirement means it’s most cost-effective to fund an enduring and expandable national capability. The air force appears the logical organisation.” The US Air Force has recently been contracted to install fire retardant delivery systems for seven C130s being transferred from the US Coast Guard to the US Forest Service.]
The quote [The air force appears the logical organisation.] Is this saying the RAAF should operate large water bombers?