[Peetwo]

Yet another ATSB/CASA top-cover non-investigation -  

Here we go again with yet another AirAsia X occurrence... But first here is some background AP & media reference:

A timeline of SSP & ICAO obfuscation? -

However like the vast majority of well considered Senate & Government non-partisan review findings, these potential risk mitigation recommendations were completely ignored by CASA, ATSB, Airservices Australia & Murky's department.

Therefore rather than being at the forefront in aviation safety, Australia is now severely lagging behind the rest of the world and in some cases our aviation safety agencies are consistently becoming part of the causal (Reason model) chain...

On data input errors and to a degree 'automation dependency', the recently released final report into a March 2015 Air Asia X A330 incident on departure Sydney is a classic example:
http://www.atsb.gov.au/publications/inve...-2015-029/

Photograph of A330-343 9M-XXM

Source: Airliners.net

 
Our authorities also seem to have this aversion to thoroughly scrutinising certain international operators (like AirAsia & AirAsia X). This is despite numerous incidents/accidents pointing towards serious systemic safety issue deficiencies within these airlines.

Other countries have considered these safety deficiencies serious enough to issue a blanket ban on these airlines and in some cases their affiliates.

However here in Australia we consider 'our' system of oversight of international carriers robust enough to capture any miscreant airlines entering our borders and endangering citizens. Remember this captured on AP from Skidmore's first foray into Senate Estimates?

P7- ...When you read Hansard the intent and the purpose of the question was – how come operators which are blacklisted in Europe can operate into Australia?.  What was needed, by way of answer was an explanation of the differences between Australia and Europe: given that ICAO compliance in the real world is the norm, rather than the 1600 (Edit correction) 4000 odd differences package which keeps Australia off the real compliance radar, using stealth and technical lip service.

I wonder how long ICAO will sit still, when the world is blatantly taking the Mickey out of Annexe 13.  Perhaps they will start to hunt down a fat, juicy high roller for to make an example of?

Well, poor old Skidmore was lured into a velvet lined trap, foiled by smoke, dazzled by mirrors and succumbing to the oldest trap in the world – the whispered "trust me".

You know the old gag – "I'll only pop it in a little way, if you don't like it, I'll take it out; trust me"..... ......

Tower Chair are we clear to backtrack?

Although personally I was much more interested in other passages of play at the time, I did find that Air Asia ......? (fill out on the dotted line.. ) & EU blacklist thing intriguing and now with Skates 1st Estimates retraction, even more so???

Anyway for those interested here is the "exchange" in pictures - fascinating how Hoodoo Voodoo seems to know in almost intimate detail the previous (prior to December 2014) EU blacklist??

 

Dr Aleck : Can I just add quickly that, in 2009, we amended our legislation specifically to enable us to look at these issues more closely. We exercised those powers in connection with any operator who draws our attention to their activities, and an accident would be a flag.

CHAIR: It is a long time since I learned to fly. You may be captured by an area that has been black listed, but generally what goes wrong when an airline gets black listed in Europe?

Mr Mrdak : Generally, it starts with a concern about the safety regulator in that country in which the airline is based.

CHAIR: The skill of the pilot, the servicing of the plane?

Mr Mrdak : Generally, it starts with concerns about the quality of the safety assurance process in the country in which the airline is based, and the safety regulatory record of the jurisdiction before it gets to the individual aircraft operator. It is much more complex than simply the operator itself.

Update to the AirAsia X incident & the indefatigable CASA...

Via the New Daily & the West Oz:

AirAsia in aviation crackdown after incidents



Related Coverage

Pilot error blamed for Sydney flight failure

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‘These airlines should be banned in Australia’

To yesterday's story via news.com.au:

[url=http://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-updates/incidents/airasia-x-facing-multiple-safety-investigations-in-australia/news-story/1ae907cc123b72d8d53e65d11a69e402]AirAsia X facing multiple safety investigations in Australia
October 14, 2016 3:48pm

Aussie flavour. AirAsia X has started hiring Australian cabin crew. Picture: AirAsia Berhad
Robyn IronsideNews Corp Australia Network

AIRASIA X is facing its sixth investigation by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau in 18-months, after another incident in southeast Queensland.

Last Saturday, October 8, an AirAsia X A330 was diverted from the Gold Coast to Brisbane when its wing flaps failed to fully deploy.

As wing flaps work to slow down an aircraft on landing, it was feared the aircraft would overshoot the runway at Coolangatta and plough into traffic.

Instead flight D7-200 was diverted to Brisbane where fire trucks were placed on standby and other aircraft cleared from the runway ahead of the landing.

AirAsia X confirmed the diversion “due to a minor technical issue”.

Troubled. AirAsia X flight D7200 diverted to Brisbane from the Gold Coast when its wing flaps became stuck halfway down. Picture: Flightradar24.orgSource:

The ATSB was yesterday awaiting further information from the airline and Airservices Australia before deciding whether to investigate.

The Malaysian based budget carrier is already the subject of four other active investigations and was forced to overhaul training procedures at the completion of another investigation into an incident in Sydney last year.

On March 10, 2015, an AirAsia X plane turned the wrong way on departure from Sydney Airport after incorrect coordinates were entered into the flight computer.

Flight crew were unable to correct the error and the A330 had to divert to Melbourne for landing with the assistance of Air Traffic Control.




Flight of failures. The AirAsia X plane that turned left instead of right on takeoff. Picture: ATSBSource:

Other incidents under investigation include:

* a “loss of separation” involving and AirAsia X A330 and a Jetstar plane over the Gold Coast in July;

* an engine shutdown en route from Sydney to Kuala Lumpur, resulting in a diversion to Melbourne on August 16;

* a taxiing incident in Melbourne last month, in which an AirAsia X aircraft began taxiing before the pushback tug and engine moved clear;

* a descent below minimum safe altitude at Gold Coast Airport on September 11.

Aviation expert, Neil Hansford said the problems were “a direct reflection of the quality of training, the quality of supervision and the quality of the checks being done”.

“All of those incidents are inexcusable. If it was one of the smaller Australian carriers, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority would ground them,” Mr Hansford said.


Safety first. AirAsia X is enjoying strong growth in passenger numbers. Picture: SuppliedSource:

A CASA spokesman declined to discuss AirAsia X but indicated there was no extra attention being given to the budget airline.

Mr Hansford asked if they were waiting for a plane crash.

“CASA needs to say (to AirAsia X) “you lose your flight approval to come to Australia, until you raise standards”,” he said.

Despite its recent history, AirAsia X continues to grow in popularity with Australian travellers.

Figures from the Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics’ International Airline Activity report, show AirAsia X recorded 46 per cent growth in the year to July, to claim a 4.1 per cent share of all overseas travellers in and out of Australia.

An AirAsia Berhad spokesman said the airline would celebrate its tenth birthday next year, and was proud that its first route in 2007 was to the Gold Coast.

“The safety of all guests and our crew is our utmost priority at all times,” he said.

“AirAsia remains committed to ensuring its compliance to all safety and security regulations.”

Chocfrog & QOTM nomination for Neil Hansford for these two reported statements...
1) ..“All of those incidents are inexcusable. If it was one of the smaller Australian carriers, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority would ground them,” Mr Hansford said...
2) ...A CASA spokesman declined to discuss AirAsia X but indicated there was no extra attention being given to the budget airline.
Mr Hansford asked if they were waiting for a plane crash...


MTF...P2