Scania powers FRNSW mobile command

Fire and Rescue New South Wales (FRNSW) is putting the finishing touches to two new Mobile Command Centre vehicles, based on the Scania G 400 6x2 chassis.

Scania says that when commissioned, the new vehicles will be used for on-scene or nearby management of major incidents and will be an information and decision-making hub.

The new vehicles will be replacing buses which have been used for this application since 1997.

The new MCCs are intended to be fully self-sufficient and are equipped with their own on-board generators, computers, radio communications equipment and satellite dishes.

Fully fitted-out with the latest available technology, the new Scania Mobile Command Centres will have room for six operators to manage incidents in an air-conditioned, high-tech environment.

The new vehicles weigh 18 tonnes and have airbag suspensions to minimise bumps and shocks to the on-board electronics and flat screen displays.

FRNSW and Scania have a long-term relationship, and the State’s primary emergency service already has a fleet of 122 other Scania vehicles. Scania’s on-going, long-term support of FRNSW has been, in the words of Peter Fanning, Assistant Director of Fleets, “second to none”.

Choosing the G 400 to underpin the new MCC was easy for FRNSW due to the high level of parts commonality with the existing fleet, and similarity of servicing regimes.

"The Scania chassis provides the necessary functionality for this application," Peter Fanning says.

"The vehicle is fitted with the latest active and passive safety technology, is very easy to drive, environmentally friendly and cost-effective.”

Besides the advanced suspension, adaptive cruise control and lane departure warning systems, the new Scanias also offer the latest Opticruise Automated gear changing system.

Gear changes adapt to the environment by taking into account hills, load and engine characteristics, plus the position of the throttle. Early down changes maintain speed on hills without wasting fuel.

Load and inclination sensors automatically select the most suitable gear for starting and no action is required from the driver. Between them, Opticruise, launch control and the clutch protection system minimise clutch wear and extend service intervals. The clutch engages fully and early, and there’s no clutch-slip during gear changes either, for the same reasons.