❓ A WA parliamentary question addresses the safety and operational aspects of large air tankers following the loss of a Boeing 737 water bomber, seeking information on expert advice, CASA involvement, water drop proportions, and salvage obligations.
AnsweredQoN 13Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
FIRE AND EMERGENCY
SERVICES — LARGE AIR TANKERS
13. Hon
MARTIN ALDRIDGE to the Minister for Emergency Services:
I refer to the catastrophic loss of
a Boeing 737 water bomber tasked by the Department of Fire and Emergency
Services on Monday, 6 February 2023 in the Fitzgerald River National Park.
(1) What expert
advice has DFES sought and received to confirm the ongoing operational safety
of large air tankers in Western Australia?
(2) Has DFES or
the state government sought the advice of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority
to confirm the appropriateness of operating conditions of such aircraft for
firefighting operations?
(3) In 2021–22,
what proportion of the total water dropped by DBCA and DFES firefighting
aircraft was attributable to large air tankers?
(4) What
obligation does DFES or the state government have in relation to the aircraft
that has been destroyed and its salvage from the national park?
SERVICES — LARGE AIR TANKERS
13. Hon
MARTIN ALDRIDGE to the Minister for Emergency Services:
I refer to the catastrophic loss of
a Boeing 737 water bomber tasked by the Department of Fire and Emergency
Services on Monday, 6 February 2023 in the Fitzgerald River National Park.
(1) What expert
advice has DFES sought and received to confirm the ongoing operational safety
of large air tankers in Western Australia?
(2) Has DFES or
the state government sought the advice of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority
to confirm the appropriateness of operating conditions of such aircraft for
firefighting operations?
(3) In 2021–22,
what proportion of the total water dropped by DBCA and DFES firefighting
aircraft was attributable to large air tankers?
(4) What
obligation does DFES or the state government have in relation to the aircraft
that has been destroyed and its salvage from the national park?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question.
(1) DFES and
other Australian and New Zealand jurisdictions are actively engaged with the
National Aerial Firefighting Centre and the Australasian Fire and Emergency
Service Authorities Council, as well as the contract providers to review the
ongoing operational safety of large air tankers.
(2) DFES, NAFC
and other jurisdictions are awaiting any outcomes from the Australian Transport
Safety Bureau and Civil Aviation Safety Authority investigations into the
Boeing 737 water bomber incident to inform any future changes in operating
conditions.
(3) In 2021–22, a total of
15 million litres of fire suppressant was dropped by aircraft, including LATs.
(4) The lost
aircraft is insured, and removal from the national park will happen when the
site is released by the ATSB.
some notice of the question.
(1) DFES and
other Australian and New Zealand jurisdictions are actively engaged with the
National Aerial Firefighting Centre and the Australasian Fire and Emergency
Service Authorities Council, as well as the contract providers to review the
ongoing operational safety of large air tankers.
(2) DFES, NAFC
and other jurisdictions are awaiting any outcomes from the Australian Transport
Safety Bureau and Civil Aviation Safety Authority investigations into the
Boeing 737 water bomber incident to inform any future changes in operating
conditions.
(3) In 2021–22, a total of
15 million litres of fire suppressant was dropped by aircraft, including LATs.
(4) The lost
aircraft is insured, and removal from the national park will happen when the
site is released by the ATSB.
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