Fire Fighting Heli radios in different states

Kulwin Park · Postby **Kulwin Park** » Wed Feb 3 2021, 11:24

Just watching the ABC news and these WA Fires east of Perth are huge! It seems that only a fixed wing 130 Herc has gone over to assist. But I would've thought there would've been a lot more heli's head over there to help?
Or is it as one pilot told me that every state has different fire radios fitted, and you just can't swap the assigned choppers from one state to another? Can anyone confirm or explain? Sounds crazy!

Biggles · Postby **Biggles** » Wed Feb 3 2021, 20:49

NSW RFS sent over a 737 (BMR 137?) last night.

LHS · Postby **LHS** » Wed Feb 3 2021, 21:47

That is correct, we have been to Tassie a couple of times from NSW when assistance has been requested, that requires a change of bricks and antennas. Have taken helicopters to Victoria where they needed a bird dog with Vic radios in to let them know where to go and what was needed. We have to fit different radios to go to SA every year. Not only radios are the problem, Victoria will have a dummy spit a NSW machine crosses the Vic border to go throw some water on a fire just over the line without permission. Might be a National contract fleet but each state has their own way (which apparently is the best and only way) of doing things.

Hello Pilots · Postby **Hello Pilots** » Fri Feb 5 2021, 11:48

It has nothing to do with radios but everything to do with politics.

cupid stunt · Postby **cupid stunt** » Fri Feb 5 2021, 14:23

Government! Couldn’t run a gang bang in a brothel with $50 hanging out of each orifice and a hard-on

Helical · Postby **Helical** » Sat Feb 6 2021, 06:13

Number 1 rule, don't believe the media.

The main limiting factor for aircraft on this fire sounded to be the smoke plume, it just wasn't safe to fly around parts of the fire until the wind change.

The LATs were definitely beneficial for building the retardant line which worked as planned thanks to an improvement in weather conditions when the lines were tested.