[Peetwo]

Yet again Dougy has got the scoop - Editor's Insights 19 February 2015

So, as has long been expected, former Qantas chief pilot Chris Manning has got the job as Aviation Commissioner at the ATSB. The position was created out of the noise that emerged from the Senate enquiry into the Pel Air ditching, where the absence of aviation experience at the top of the ATSB was loudly noted. Chris Manning is forthright and knowledgable and should do the job admirably. Good news.


 Not such good news for those who were hoping to see an Australian in the top job at ICAO. Although the decision about a successor to Raymond Benjamin will not be revealed until the second week of March, the word around Montreal is that the Chinese contender is looking likely to get the nod, ahead of our former CASA DAS John McCormick. Apparently money still talks in those UN circles and the Chinese have been lavish with it in order to win votes.

 The re-opened Pel Air investigation is underway, but given the level of work involved, it is expected to take eight to 12 months to complete. In parallel, the previously issued final report of the investigation has been removed from the ATSB website until the re-opened investigation is complete. If any new safety issues are identified during the investigation, these will be communicated to the relevant parties as soon as possible.

So Manners did get the gig...
Stby for Presser...MTF