[Peetwo]

Su_Spence to the rescue on Torres airfield embargo?? - Yeah right! 



Media files: 

Frustrated airline CEO lifts lid on rule change that grounded flights

The nation’s aviation regulator stands accused of policy mismanagement which is connected to the death of a Cairns woman and the unnecessary isolation of vulnerable Indigenous communities.

&

SENATOR DEMANDS ANSWERS ON ISLAND AIRSTRIPS DECISION



Shadow Minister for Northern Australia, Senator Susan McDonald, has demanded an urgent review of a decision to close Torres Strait Island airstrips after she questioned CASA staff in Senate Estimates last month about people having to risk their lives travelling in the Strait by boat.

Just three weeks after the hearing – in which Senator McDonald foreshadowed a tragedy happening – speech pathologist Wendy Richardson was lost in the Strait when the boat she was in flipped in rough seas.

Senator McDonald said she knew Ms Richardson and was distressed by her death, offering her deepest sympathies to Ms Richardson’s family.

In Estimates on May 23, Senator McDonald asked CASA chief executive Pip Spence why CASA had closed airstrips on Murray, Darnley and Mabuiag islands for safety reasons when aircraft had been operating on them without incident for 20 years.

Ms Spence said commercial aircraft used on the islands were not suitable for the relatively short airstrips but Sen. McDonald pointed out those same aircraft flying in a private capacity were permitted to use the strips.

“It makes no sense,” she told the hearing. “I think it is pretty shocking that we have actually gone backwards as a result of regulation. For the people on those islands, I think it's a poor outcome.”

“…People are now forced to travel in dinghies across notoriously treacherous water inhabited by crocodiles and sharks. …it will be cold comfort if something terrible happens to somebody [because] we won’t let people land on places anymore where they’ve been landing for 20 years.”

A dismayed Senator McDonald today called on Federal Transport Minister, Catherine King to fast-track planned upgrades for Torres Strait airstrips so people would have a permanent solution for travel between islands by boat.

“CASA made a questionable decision to close these strips and offered no alternatives for people needing to travel and they are forced to use boats,” she said.

“CASA must provide an exemption to allow air travel to restart to and from these islands before there is another tragedy.

“I am distressed that we are seeing CASA make decisions without sufficient evidence that, instead of offering tangible safety benefits, in fact put people in high-risk situations.

“Minister King must review the closures, order the fast-tracking of airstrip upgrades and ensure the Civil Aviation Safety Authority is addressing issues in a timely, logical and effective manner before another life is lost.”

In the 'passing strange' coincidence file, 2 days after Ol_Tom's BOLLOCKS post above Su_Spence added to the cynical "Stating the BOLLOCKS" press file...

Type
Stating the facts
Date
5 July 2023

We make all of our decisions based on safety. Whether it’s a regional service operating from a capital city, an Australian airline flying overseas or a small airline flying people in remote parts of Australia, we won't compromise passenger safety.



However, we also understand the importance of air services to our remote and regional communities.

Skytrans fly into several islands in the Torres Strait that have short runways. The length of the runway means some aircraft need additional approvals to conduct commercial passenger flights in the types of aircraft being operated.

The aircraft meet the minimums required by the manufacturer, but Australia's safety rules for commercial air transport require longer runways to account for unexpected conditions or pilot skills.

We’ve been working with Skytrans to safely resume services.

Earlier this year we approved Skytrans to resume services to Murray Mer Island.

Last week we reviewed additional data provided by Skytrans and gave them approval to resume services with some conditions to Mabuiag and Darnley Islands.

The information they provided included the results of demonstration flights conducted at both islands, comparing real-life data with manufacturer data and safety standards.

Skytrans had already put in place additional controls like special pilot training, runway markers and approach height limits to account for unexpected conditions in the unique Torres Strait environment.

Additional risk work was also conducted and measures put in place to ensure passenger safety.

The flight data validates Skytrans’ efforts to ensure that operations conducted on the short runways on these islands have appropriate safety buffers in place.

We acknowledge Skytrans’ long safety record and appreciate their cooperation as we worked through the process to validate their operations.

We also understand the vital role air transport services play in the Torres Strait and would like to thank local communities for their patience.

Passengers who rely on these services can be assured they have been thoroughly assessed by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority and that appropriate measures are in place to ensure people arrive at their destination safely.

So Su_Spence concedes but still arrogantly defends the indefensible IE 24 years of safe Caravan LCRPT Ops to those very same islands and what's changed in that time to suddenly make those OPS any less safe? 

Answer: The introduction of an almost indecipherable 468 page CASR part 139 MOS?? -    

Meanwhile down at Essendon the Su_Spence regime completely obfuscates the fact that the DFO shopping centre complex exists in safety non-compliance with our international obligations to ICAO Annex 14 and indeed the Part 139 MOS...

Ref: Popinjay's DFO cover-up report: Part II



Ref: Essendon DFO accident: No MSM speculation here Christine?

MTF...P2