Had Expressed Concerns About Flying In Poor Weather

The pilot of a Dromader firefighting aircraft that went down October 24 resulting in his fatal injury had expressed reluctance about flying in the poor weather conditions in New South Wales ... and been chastised by others fighting the fire.

One of the plane's wings snapped off the fuselage during a run and the airplane impacted terrain, according to a witness. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau is investigating.

Liberal Senator Bill Hefferman said during a hearing looking into the operations of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority that he had been told that pilots were "taunted by the Rural Fire Service because these guys didn't particularly want to fly." Hefferman said he was told that David Black, the pilot who was killed, was told "real men and real pilots would be up there."

The Courier-Mail of Brisbane, Australia reports that the country's Dromader M18 airplanes have been grounded as a precautionary measure by Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) since the accident in October. The aircraft are generally used for agricultural purposes, but some have been modified to carry additional weight and put into service as water bombers for firefighting purposes. Senator Hefferman said those modifications should not be allowed.

(Image from file. Not accident airplane)

FMI: www.casa.gov.au