NSW: $4.4 million anti-terrorism helicopter on the job in NSW

AAP General News (Australia)
12-07-2003
NSW: $4.4 million anti-terrorism helicopter on the job in NSW

SYDNEY, Dec 7 AAP - NSW's readiness to quickly respond to a terrorist strike received
a boost today with the commissioning of a $4.4 million counter-terrorism helicopter.

POLAIR 5, to be shared by police and the NSW Fire Brigades, has extra fuel tanks to
give it a range of 1,000 kilometres and a cruising speed of 250kph.

Launching the aircraft at Bankstown Airport in Sydney, NSW Premier Bob Carr said it
would allow emergency services to respond quickly if the worst happened.

"Everything we have learned since Bali and September 11 (2001) ... (has shown) you
need to get people and equipment to the scene of a terrorist strike as soon as possible,"

he told reporters.

NSW Police Commissioner Ken Moroney said the joint operation between police and the
fire brigade highlighted the need for inter-agency cooperation in response to the threat
of terrorism.

"The approach to the whole issue of counter-terrorism has to be a collaborative one," he said.

POLAIR 5 can carry 10 passengers and is fitted out for hazard materials and bomb squad
operations.

AAP aw/smb/sjb/br

KEYWORD: HELICOPTER

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