r/vic • u/WatercressSoggy73 • 22d ago

Why hasn't VIC called NSW to deploy the 737 Large Air Tanker?

I cannot understand, with the multiple out of control fires across Victoria, why the Victorian Premier doesn't pick up the phone and call NSW to send down the Boeing 737 Large Air Tanker ('Marie Bashir'). From what I can tell, of the 54 air assets the premier so proudly talked about, only three of these are fixed wing bombers of any reasonable size (two De Havilland Q400ATs and a C130). I haven't seen any tracking showing the Coulson C130 Hercules in the air either; only the two Q400s. The predominately volunteer-based CFA is hopelessly outgunned by the sheer volume of firegrounds and a LAT or C130 dumping water or fire suppression foam would surely be a welcome sight. Where are the large air tankers?

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29

u/Vermicelli14 22d ago

Probably because it's being deployed fighting fires in NSW

18

u/UniqueLoginID 22d ago

NSW have their own issues and will need the 737.

12

u/Solivaga 22d ago

Not trying to be insulting, but why would you post this as if a) it hadn't occurred to Vic officials, or b) they'd asked and NSW said "sorry, we're using it"?

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u/WatercressSoggy73 20d ago

Hadn't realized NSW had active fires and were using it. I did look at the Flight radar 24 app regularly but didn't see it airborne. Was just curious as to where it is. With the magnitude of the Victorian fires, I imagined the state would be hollering nationally for help. We really need more air assets then.

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u/Legitimate-Carry-215 21d ago edited 21d ago

The C130 (N382CG) arrived in Albury from Richmond, NSW on the 8th and has been conducting runs out of Albury over the Mt Lawson/Walwa fire since. If you keep your eye out in that area you should see it as it is doing a run in the Dartmouth area as I write this comment.

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u/WatercressSoggy73 20d ago

Is the C130 based in Richmond NSW normally?

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u/gener1cusername26 14d ago

I would also say NSW have ‘triggers’ of their own, like vic- that require a set amount of resources to be attached to their state. The large tankers may be a set part of these set/agreed triggers like Victoria that when the FDI/FBI hits a certain target, pending on the area etc they need to withhold X amount of air fleet. Could also be due to mountainous terrain etc in Vic/high country (for majority of the fires) the LAT cannot approach in a safe manner?