[thorn bird]

Sunday Telegraph December 1st.

"FIREY'S PLANE PLAN CRASHES"

Seems the NSW government is about to experience some good old fashion CASA embuggerence.

Well, debatably embuggerence may be too strong a word. Most certainly they will have to make a large "donation" to CASA inc. for non services rendered to certify their recently purchased water bombers are indeed safe to carry passengers. Seems like the US certified Boeing 737 airliner, converted to dump thousands of litres of fire retardant from low level, can also carry up to 70 fire crews to or from a fire zone.

In the land of OZ they can't, not without CASA "Certification" ie a CASA make work program. Keep in mind the firey's are not required to buy a ticket.

Same same their Blackhawk choppers because they are ex military aircraft, Australian Federal Aviation laws would have to be re-written for them to carry non fare paying passengers.

Okay for passengers to be carried in C130ies, also military, not civilian certified.

Given our experience with the costs of Australia's Part 61, 141, 142, re-writting OZ reg's to accomodate fireys is going to cost a motza, probably a lot more than simply introducing US FAR regulations en total, things would be a lot safer not to mention a lot cheaper as a bonus.

Oh well, I guess squandering zillion's of $$$ never was a bureaucrats concern, it aint their money after all.