Police Aviation News November 2008

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