Busy week for choppers
Published Date: 16 Jan 2013
Summary
Cootamundra Herald
IT was all hands on deck for Cootamundra-based helicopter company Valhalla when bushfires threatened the state last week.
With three pilots between the two aircraft, Mr Ronning said all worked all of their available flying hours last week, joining with other Rural Fire Service commissioned aircraft and ground crews to battle the fires. Valhalla operations manager Andrew Ronning said last Wednesday both choppers were in the air over the Jugiong fire.
Valhalla operations manager Andrew Ronning (right) pictured with Valhalla Helicopters owner Canadian Blair Savege, has been busy these past few weeks fighting fires from the air.
Last week the pilots also spent time in the air over fires in Canberra, Wagga and Griffith.
"We were flat out all week, everyone was flying their max hours each day," Mr Ronning said.
He said the Jugiong fire was very large and very fast-moving.
The choppers were filling up their water buckets from farm dams while the fire was close to Jugiong. When it spread towards Yass, they collected water from the Yass River.
Both Valhalla choppers had been over Griffith on Tuesday.
With up to 1500 litres of water able to be dropped on the fire from each chopper and a quick turnaround time, the helicopters are a vital piece of the firefighting puzzle. It has been a busy summer for Valhalla with Mr Ronning saying both choppers were utilised in the Boorowa fire also.
Over the Summer, Andrew, a local man, has been assisted by Canadian pilots, many of who come to Australia on a month on/month off basis.
