NSW: Elvis due back tomorrow
By Sharon Labi and Hamish Esplin
SYDNEY, Dec 8 AAP - After a successful campaign a year ago, Elvis is due back in Sydneytomorrow for an encore performance.
The giant helitanker that was credited with saving hundreds of homes during last year'sChristmas bushfire crisis, will arrive at Bankstown Airport to complement the nearly 100aircraft already in use around NSW.
The state government and Rural Fire Service Commissioner Phil Koperberg have cautionedthat the aircranes are just one aspect of the firefighting effort and they should notbe seen as miracle workers.
But for families living in bushfire-prone areas, the arrival of Elvis and its 9,000litre water dumping capability will be a welcome sight.
Elvis joins cousins Georgia Peach and The Incredible Hulk in the main bushfire hotspots.
The Rural Fire Service (RFS) said it expected the helitanker to be operational by Wednesdayat the latest after being assembled and tested at Bankstown Airport.
Each helitanker costs $12,000 an hour to operate and millions to lease but the federalgovernment stepped in to foot half the leasing bill.
"We have for the first time made a direct contribution to defraying half the cost ofthe helitankers," Prime Minister John Howard said as he toured fire ravaged areas in Sydney'snorth. Elvis was originally contracted to Victoria but has been diverted to NSW to dealwith the current emergency.
"It was contracted to go to Victoria but it will come straight to Sydney," NSW PremierBob Carr said.
"So very shortly there will be a third skycrane in the air.
"It takes 20 hours of work to get it airborne once it arrives. It will have a teamworking around the clock to get it in the air."
The RFS had 94 aircraft in the air working to douse the 80 fires burning around Sydney,north of the city and on the NSW south coast today.
"At the moment we have 94 aircraft in the air so the aviation section's got their handsfull tracking every one of those 94 aircraft," RFS spokesman Ross West said.
"We have more aircraft at our service right now than the Australian Air Force."
Among the fleet is the new k-max chopper which has been used to fight bushfires duringthe North American summer.
"Unfortunately, because everybody knows Elvis they don't take a look at this one, butit has been used much more effectively inside the United States," Mr West said.
The helitankers are owned by Erickson which has 18 of the aircraft scattered around the world.
AAP sal/sdh/br
KEYWORD: BUSHFIRES NSW ELVIS NIGHTLEAD
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