One of Australia’s biggest aerial bushfire fighting contractors, Kestral’s Ray Cronin, has cautioned against a knee-jerk reaction to future fire needs based on the early evidence of a disastrous fire season.
“You can be overactive in the middle of a battle,” he told The Australian in an interview.
Cronin described this bushfire season as “very unusual”, adding: “We need to study the results before jumping to conclusions.”
Kestral has contracts for 19 helicopters used to fight bushfires fires under a deal with, among others, US-based aviation provider Erickson.
The Victorian-based Kestrel is one of the biggest air contractors, along with Queensland-based McDermott Aviation.
The business, which turns over around $75 million a year, started in 1985.
The helicopters, which cost $30 million to buy, are generally leased and contracted to the Australian agencies on a daily basis.
The big helicopters use around 2000 litres of fuel per hour, which compares with the average passenger car which uses 10 litres per 100 kilometres.
In peak season Kestrel has 100 full-time staff supporting the planes, including semi-trailers to keep fuel supplied.
McDermott maintains 27 crews, 16 hire cars, five fuel trucks and three mobile service units.
The companies’ operations show there is an active firefighting industry in Australia.
Cronin said Erickson and others use his operations because of their knowledge and contracts with the Australian agencies.
He maintains a fleet of 10 large helicopters in Australia during the bushfire season but notes the Australian season has grown longer.
Asked if he believes in climate change he said: “You’d be mad if you don’t - the evidence is right in front of us. The season is getting longer and bigger.”
What makes this year longer is the fact the fires have run right down Australia’s east coast and started so early.
He said aircraft are most effective when they are used early on small fires.
“This season has been difficult because of the winds and poor visibility which has made life difficult,” he added.
Once the season is finished in Australia the helicopters go off to Greece and Italy.
The Tasmanian-born Cronin was denied entry into the Royal Australian Air Force because he was colour blind, but worked in the Department of Civil Aviation to help finance his pilot’s licence.
It now costs around $100,000 and takes one year to get a pilot’s licence.
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