By Michael Doran
The Erickson Skycrane helicopter, nicknamed Christine, that ditched into a Gippsland dam on Monday 28 January had spent the previous day operating from its staging point in Wesburn Park.
While on the ground on Sunday 27 January, the huge helicopter was supported by the Upper Yarra SES unit, a CFA mobile communications vehicle, a Kestrel Aviation fuel tanker and the three Erickson aircrew.
One of the pilots on Sunday, Mike Davey from Colorado, USA, said that there were six of the aircraft in Australia for the firefighting season.
“There are two each in Melbourne and Sydney and one in Adelaide and Perth,” he said.
“This is my fourth year out here and I have flown these helicopters in fires in many different countries.
“Last year I was in Greece for those big wildfires and then the forest fires in the US.”
Local company Kestrel Aviation has an agreement with Erickson to operate the aircraft in Australia as part of its own extensive aerial firefighting capabilities.
Erickson is the worldwide leader in high-volume firebombing and has operated the skycranes since 1992.
There are several crews made up of pilots and engineers that rotate shifts.
“When I was a kid I grew up around helicopters as my dad was a Chinook helicopter pilot and I just love what I do,” Mr Davey said.
“It is very challenging flying in the extreme environments we are in and there is always something happening that needs your attention.
“When we are filling the tanks we are literally flying just above the water, often in very windy conditions, but that’s what we do on a daily basis in some tough places.
“Erickson has around 20 of these skycranes and we move around the world providing firebombing services, in Europe, Asia, South America, pretty much anywhere there are forest fires.”
Upper Yarra SES volunteer Cameron MacDonald said their role was to provide area security for the aircraft and keep the landing and support site safe for both the public and the operating personnel.
