Police Aviation News November 2008
Police Aviation News November 2008
Police Aviation News November 2008
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<strong>Police</strong> <strong>Aviation</strong> <strong>News</strong> <strong>November</strong> <strong>2008</strong> 31<br />
Local officials turned over Cascais Airport to the visitors and made a point of making everyone<br />
welcome. Not a few remarked that it was a definite first for an operational airport to be<br />
first closed for a period and then set on fire to ensure that a small aerial water bombing<br />
demonstration could go ahead each afternoon.<br />
The aerial firefighting display, organised by Helibravo amounting to trained firefighting experts<br />
setting fire to piles of shrubbery beside the runway while a team of firemen from the<br />
Portuguese National Authority for Civil Protection (ANPC) on board two AS350 helicopters<br />
demonstrate how they work together to put out forest fires. A bit of fun that Helitech has not<br />
addressed in years, not that I expect Duxford to be set fire to next year!<br />
The event was themed to focus attention on aerial fire fighting an area which is becoming<br />
an increasingly important capability in southern Europe. Unfortunately it was not a very forgiving<br />
theme for the organisers. The closure of the local fire season was delayed this year<br />
and it did not finally draw to an end until the end of day two. That robbed the event of visitors<br />
and, apparently, aircraft. It is said that seven display helicopters failed to arrive but I am<br />
still confused to why better use was not made of other resources close to hand including the<br />
fixed wing fire aircraft parked close but not close enough, Helitech has flirted with fixed wing<br />
before.<br />
The same seasonal problem blighted the ‘Aerial Firefighting Conference’ being operated by<br />
the Shephard Group at the same time. Although the audience was creditable one of the major<br />
speakers, the Los Angeles County Fire Departments’ Air Operations Battalion Chief,<br />
Tony Marrone, was unable to attend because fires were still flaring in California and he was<br />
recalled at the last minute from giving his presentation on the integration of aircraft into operations<br />
to fight wildland fires. This was a well planned package under the guidance of Lee<br />
Benson and I am aware that a number of important people had travelled specifically to Portugal<br />
to take in that original programme. Their disappointment may have been damaging but<br />
steps have now been taken to mitigate that.<br />
There were logistical problems with the venue, many complained about the poor road access<br />
from Lisbon – not the distance, the congestion brought about by winding local roads –<br />
and between the main site at Cascais Airport and the off-site conference at the superbly<br />
appointed Hotel Quinta Da Marinha. But these are details that can be designed out next