Adf aviation assets in natural disasters

[Bob C]

I really don't understand !

The two former ARMY Blackhawks that were gifted to the NSW RFS 3-4 years ago to be used transporting firefighters to remote areas still cannot be used as CASA considers these ex military helicopters an unacceptable risk to safety.

Yet MRH-90s are being used to evacuate civilians from flood ravaged areas in QLD and ADF aviation assets were used extensively throughout the 2019/20 bushfires and previous natural disasters.

And I find it ironic that ex U S Army Blackhawks, registered in the U S A and N Z, are being used as firebombers but ex R A N Seahawks which could be converted for such use are hidden away in Belmont N S W gathering dust. And surely some of the recently retired ARMY Blackhawks could have been retained for use as fire bombers as one of the recommendations of the Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements stated "....This warrants a reassessment of AustraliaÂ’s current reliance on overseas-based aviation services, and a focus on developing AustraliaÂ’s sovereign aerial firefighting capability....."

[Greg Hyde]

Not sure if this is relevant ...

A ex-RAN Seahawk N24-002 was added to reg on 1/10/19 as XHJ

Plus

VH-UHS UH-60A 80-23475 23/03/2021 AEROTECH AIRCRAFT HOLDINGS
VH-UHG UH-60A 82-23761 06/08/2021 AEROTECH AIRCRAFT HOLDINGS

[Bob C]

Thanks Greg.

VH-XHJ was one of the ex RAN Seahawks sold to Skyline Aviation Group of Belmont N S W.

[Greg Hyde]

Bob,

Didn't the same thing happen with the ex-RAN Trackers ?

[Bob C]

I think so Greg.

I vaguely recall that there was a proposal to convert them to firebombers as similar aircraft had been used in the USA for years. I think they were stored at West Sale but nothing ever came of the idea (how strange !) and they were been left to rot. At least one was destroyed in the 2019/20 bushfires.

[Greg Hyde]

Ironic, a proposed fire-fight a/c destroyed by a bush fire.

[MarkR]

I think so Greg.

I vaguely recall that there was a proposal to convert them to firebombers as similar aircraft had been used in the USA for years. I think they were stored at West Sale but nothing ever came of the idea (how strange !) and they were been left to rot. At least one was destroyed in the 2019/20 bushfires.

The trackers were sold to a private company (hookway) with the intent to convert them to fire bombers however the lack of serviceable engines pretty much killed it, so they sat at West Sale since the 90s and were scrapped.

[Brenden S]

Bob, they want to transport fire fighters, so you need to dig into the relevant legislation to find out why ex military aircraft can't be used. Yes they can be converted into fire bombing under a restricted CofA, but can't transport people.

[Bob C]

Thanks Greg ; I've seen photos of the two ex U S Army Blackhawks on the Aussie register. We've had U S and Kiwi registered firebomber Blackhawks operating in W A during the summer.

Yes Brenden, I know that ex Aussie ARMY Blackhawks cannot be used to transport people as CASA considers these ex military helicopters an unacceptable risk to safety as I mentioned in my post.

But why are they allowed to evacuate civilians in times of crisis ? Doesn't CASA consider this risky ? And why is it so hard for Aussie operators to get approval to convert some to fire bombers as distinct from being people transporters ?

[MarkR]

RAAF p8 checking out the flood damage over the sunny coast at present

[Brenden S]

The reason why they can evacuate people is due to the fact that they are operated by the ADF. When they are operated by civil it is a different set of rules.