Aviation identity and entreprenuer Dick Smith has donated $10,000 to a small Victorian company to establish more weather cameras around Australia.
The money was presented to Aus Web Cams, which works with private operators and corporates in the Asia-Pacific area to provide weather cameras for pilots, aircraft operators and the general public.
“With 20 fatalities at Lockhart river still fresh in people’s minds, this camera investment may go some way to avoiding similar types of serious accidents in the future," Smith said. "If it helps out just one person from coming to grief, then it’s been well worth while.”
It is not the first time Smith has sunk capital into weather cameras. In 2016 he donated $160,000 to Airservices Australia to establish a network of cameras at critical locations around Australia, using funds from the sale of his Cessna Citation.
“With this further investment under Brent’s guidance, we expect to be able to cover the four initial and more complex locations and around 20 or more additional locations," he added. "It’s affordable aviation safety and you know I’m a proponent of that.”
Aus Web Cams Director Brent Christensen said that work has already begun on this joint venture.
“We’ve started by providing cameras and associated equipment and image hosting to four main locations: Lockhart River, Ceduna, William Creek and Coober Pedy, in addition to over 200 existing airport locations that we currently service.
"We are also working to immediately assist the Central Queensland Rescue service with cameras for remote island locations for their helicopter operations, day and night.”
Christensen told Australian Flying that these four locations were chosen due to safety and remoteness, citing remote WA locations where pilots are a long way from anywhere and sometimes may need to undertake a flight past the point of no return. Camera coverage is also critical at Ceduna in South Australia, where sea fog can roll in with little warning
Christensen said some of the ancillary equipment will assist in providing high-speed internet to visiting pilots waiting in these airport terminals. This will enable reliable flight planning or perhaps the ability to be able to stream a movie when waiting for inclement weather to pass over, rather than push on into the unknown. The system will also support the addition of ADS-B receivers.
"This network has always been generously supported by the two main Australian electronic flight bag applications," Christensen points out, "however, this Dick Smith investment will help take coverage to the next level and we look forward to continuing to grow after that with assistance from interested parties.”
The bulk of the funds will be used to purchase weather camera equipment for airports or suitable locations to further improve aviation safety.
Aus Web Cams has invited interested parties to submit a proposal via email at cameraoffer@auswebcams.com indicating the proposed location, and how the camera will improve aviation safety.