[Peetwo]

McDonaught Aviation Shamelist numbers ?..? cont/-

CASA embuggerance of APTA & GB update - 

Via Glen Buckley, letter to CASA Chair: Dear Mr Anthony Mathews

..My own flying school, Melbourne Flight Training is currently in a state of financial duress that is quite likely to be irreparable. The Company has incurred unacceptable debt levels as it has attempted to ensure continuity of operations for APTA and the members that have depended on it. I identified two other business that have ceased operations as result of the CASA decisions made in relation to APTA. By restricting my revenue streams for 9 months, I could not be expected to survive. No business in any industry, could sustain that.

Personally, the process since CASA implemented Part 61/141 and 142, has also been catastrophic. I clearly identified that in fact I couldn’t even muster up the money for the car park fees if the meeting extended for one more than one hour. That is the truth. I have been left destitute and that includes the loss of my family home. That is the fact. There are no hidden accounts or trust funds. I have exhausted every fund I have available to me to defend the APTA model. I resolutely stand by the fact that it

o Was well intentioned.
o Improved safety.
o Improved regulatory compliance.
o Created jobs.
o Protected regional aviation and most particularly regional aero clubs.
o Protected the fast dwindling Australian Owned sector of the industry.

Importantly, it was a multi million dollar investment. It was designed with CASA. It was approved by CASA. It was audited by CASA. The fact is that Mr Crawford and four other CASA personnel operating under his direct operational control, and I include;

• Mr Jones.
• Mr Martin,
• Mr Nuttall, and
• Mr Lacy

initiated a process in October 2018. That process was a complete reversal of previous CASA policy. It came instantly, and with absolutely no warning. The entire process could have been avoided had CASA decided to inform me or meet with me. The associated impact on my business and the gross waste of taxpayer funds achieving that objective, has been truly disgraceful and unacceptable. My experiences may be shared by others in Industry, and if so, it requires a Royal Commission, it really does.

Those actions and decisions

• Were in clear breach of almost every element of CASAs own Regulatory Philosophy.
• In breach of the PGPA Act which requires these personnel to use public funds and resources responsibly.
• Breach the requirements of Administrative Law, Procedural Fairness, and Natural Justice.
• Were quite simply. Not well intentioned, and certainly not based on safety considerations.
• Bullying and Intimidating in their nature.
• Cannot be supported by any clear or concise legislation, and that is a requirement placed on CASA...(for more refer to above link)

And today...

To the  staff and students of Melbourne Flight Training,

It is with great sadness, that after 15 years of operating at Moorabbin Airport, and at short notice I have to announce the closure of MFT effective immediately.

Since October 2018, CASA initiated action against my business, that has cost the business many hundreds of thousands of dollars, and despite an enormous amount of effort, I have been unable to resolve this matter.  Importantly, the CASA action is not based on safety concerns, and there are no regulatory breaches.

CASA placed a number of restrictions on my ability to trade, and after 9 months of CASA not resolving this matter, the impact has been significant.

As this decision has just been made, I am unable to provide more details at this stage.

I am off airport this morning, and will be on site at APTA after midday.

I will be working towards a prompt resolution to minimise the impact on staff and students.

Please standby for further details. I apologise for the uncertainty that this brings to all.

Thankyou for your support, understanding, and your patience.


Respectfully, Glen.

From Ironsider via the Oz:

Widow sues CASA over Tiger Moth pilot’s death




A Facebook image In memory of ‘Jimmy’ Rae.

• EXCLUSIVE
  ROBYN IRONSIDE
  AVIATION WRITER
  @ironsider
  
  
  
• 12:00AM JULY 31, 2019
  

The widow of a young pilot killed when his Tiger Moth broke up in-flight is suing the Civil Aviation Safety Authority for approving the “safety critical” part of the aircraft that failed.

On December 16, 2013, pilot Alexander “Jimmy” Rae, 26, was flying with French tourist Taissia Umenc, 21, when the replacement tie rods snapped, causing a wing to detach and the plane to crash off Queensland’s South Stradbroke Island.

Described by Australian Transport Safety Bureau investigators as a “safety critical” component, the metal tie rods connected the lower wings to the fuselage. The ATSB investigation found the rods snapped because of pre-existing fatigue cracking near the join with the left wing, causing the Tiger Moth to break up. It was also found that the rods, made of stainless steel instead of ­cadmium-plated steel like the original parts, were released into service without knowing how long they would last.

As a result, all tie rods manufactured by J&R Aerospace and approved by CASA were ordered to be removed from Tiger Moths and destroyed.

The ATSB also ordered other aircraft parts approved by CASA using the same method of assessment be reassessed.



The red de Havilland DH-82 crashed just eight minutes into their flight. Picture: Supplied

“Over 1000 parts were approved by (CASA) for Australian Parts Manufacturer Approval using a policy that accepted existing design approvals, without the authority confirming that important service factors such as service history and life limits, were appropriately considered,” said the ATSB’s final report on the December 2013 crash.

A coroner’s report also found that the fracture of the lateral tie rods caused the Tiger Moth’s wing to fail, resulting in the deaths of Rae and Umenc.

The report by coroner James McDougall said the design engineer responsible for the replacement tie rods was operating within a CASA-approved system that did not require an independent check. “It is noted that CASA’s policy at the time was to accept CAR 35 approvals without further detailed engineering assessment of the design,” the report said. “There was also a lack of records of CASA’s engineering assessment for those parts.”

A statement of claim prepared by Vector Legal partner John Dawson on behalf of Alice Rae and filed in the Victorian Supreme Court sought damages, interest and costs from CASA and J&R Aerospace.

The statement said CASA “owed the deceased a duty to take reasonable care in administering a regulatory frame­work for maintaining, enhancing and promoting the safety of aviation with emphasis on preventing aviation accidents”.

CASA’s defence filed by Minter Ellison special counsel Leah Mooney said the regulator did not admit the allegations in Ms Rae’s statement of claim.

The matter is expected to be heard in the Victorian Supreme Court in September.

MTF...P2