Outlook AHSA Newsletter December 2024

DerekB30/12/202431/12/2024

The December 2024 edition of Outlook / AHSA News was distributed to members recently.

This edition can be read online in the viewer below.

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1936 Mandated Airlines Ltd was formed, as an amalgamation of W.R. Carpenter and Co. and Pacific Aerial Transport. The company was based at Salamua, Mandated Territory of New Guinea. Source: Parnell, N. and Boughton, T., Flypast, A record of aviation in Australia, Australian Government Publishing Service, Canberra, 1988.

1982 Cessna 210-5 (205) VH-BPQ went missing over the ocean near Cairns, Queensland on 30 September 1982. Prior to departing for Atherton from Mount Isa the pilot had submitted a flight plan, indicating that the expected flight time was 3 hours 7 minutes. The weather forecasts were satisfactory for flight under visual flight rules, but there were areas of reduced visibility because of smoke associated with bush fires on the latter part of the route. The pilot elected fo fly on the direct track from Mount Isa to Atherton, although the terrain over this route is relatively featureless, making visual navigation difficult. The aircraft departed Mount Isa at 1500 hours EST, giving an expected arrival time at Atherton (about 740km to the northeast) of 1807 hours. At 1727, the pilot amended his arrival time to 1830 hours, but gave no indication of the reason for this delay. At 1810 he advised Cairns Flight Service Unit (FSU) that he intended descending from the cruising altitude of 9500 feet to "about 6000" because of smoke haze. At 1817 hours he advised that he was approximately 20 miles from Atherton and expressed doubts about being able to land there because of extremely thick smoke. In response to queries from the FSU he indicated that the radio navigation aid fitted to the aircraft was not operating properly; and that he had undergone some training, but was not qualified, for night cross-country operations. The published end of daylight at Atherton was 1836 hours, however the smoke in the area would have effectively brought this time forward. The aerodrome was not equipped with any runway lighting, and Cairns FSU relayed a suggestion to the pilot from the Townsville Senior Operations Controller (SOC) that the aircraft proceed to Cairns (50km north north east of Atherton), the nearest aerodrome with runway lighting and an aerodrome beacon. The pilot accepted the suggestion and proceeded on a heading calculated by the SOC. Efforts by the SOC to determine the position of the aircraft were hampered because the pilot apparently had not maintained an in-flight record of positions, times and headings flown. However, at 1834 hours the pilot reported that he was passing between two towns, and advised three minutes later that he thought the towns could have been Atherton and Mareeba. Unfortunately, neither he nor the SOC appeared to consider the desirability of diverting the aircraft and circling over one of the towns in order to positively establish the position of the aircraft. Had the towns been Atherton and Mareeba the pilot should have been able to sight the lights of Cairns in less than 10 minutes, however no alteration to the assigned heading was given until 1859, at which time the pilot was told to orbit. Discussion took place between the FSU operator and the SOC on the possibility that the aircraft had crossed the coast and was over the sea. The SOC instituted the Distress Phase of Search and Rescue procedures at 1900 hours and at 1905 he gave instructions for the pilot to take up a westerly heading. Shortly afterwards the pilot established communications with Cairns Tower. During the following 90 minutes the SOC relayed numerous messages to the aircraft through Cairns Tower; other aircraft conducted an airborne search and the Cairns meteorological station radar was activated in efforts to locate the aircraft. At 1945 hours the pilot confirmed that the aircraft was over water and the aircraft apparently remained over water for the remainder of the flight. The engine subsequently failed from fuel exhaustion and the pilot advised he was descending over a "fairly smooth sea". The final transmission from the aircraft was made shortly before 2037 hours, at which time it was passing through 400 feet. An intensive search was commenced the following morning and continued for several days, however no trace of the aircraft or its occupants has been found. There were 5 fatalities. Sources: ATSB Investigation number 198200063; aviation-safety.net website

1999 On 30 September 1999 the Senate forced the tabling of a report by Mr Stephen Skehill on the appointment of a CASA Board member, Mr Laurie Foley, as Assistant Director Aviation Safety Compliance. This (second) Skehill investigation into CASA corporate governance cleared Mr Laurie Foley over selection processes. Source: Senate, Debates, p. 9309. via aph.gov.au website

2010 The Senate Standing Committee on Rural Affairs and Transport commenced an inquiry into pilot training and airline safety on 30 September 2010 that included the Transport Safety Investigation (Incident Reports) Bill 2010. Matters considered were flight hour requirements on safety; training standards, CASA oversight and aspects of the Jetstar incident at Melbourne airport on 21 June 2007, and the Tiger Airways incident, en route from Mackay to Melbourne, on 18 May 2009. The Private Senator’s Bill sought to impose a penalty on any persons who improperly influenced a ‘responsible person’ reporting an incident to aviation authorities, in the context that airlines were preventing airline staff from reporting events. Source: Senate, Debates, 30 September 2010, p. 361. via aph.gov.au website

2010 The Airports Amendment Bill 2010 was introduced into Parliament on 30 September 2010 to implement parts of the airport planning policies that were set out in the 2009 National Aviation Policy White Paper. Source: M Coombs, Bills Digest no. 25 2010–11, Parliamentary Library, Canberra, 2010 and Senate Rural Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee, Airports Amendment Bill 2010 [Provisions], 18 November 2010. via aph.gov.au website

2021 The US State Department announced on 30 September 2021 that it had made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Australia of one EA-18G Growler Aircraft, Related Defense Services, and related equipment for an estimated cost of $125 million. This aircraft would replace Australia’s EA-18G A46-311 aircraft lost in an accident at Nellis Air Force Base. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification, notifying Congress of the possible sale as follows: "The Government of Australia requested to buy a United States Navy (USN) EA-18G aircraft. The USN EA-18G aircraft will then be modified into a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) EA-18G aircraft configuration. The sale would include one (1) EA-18G Growler aircraft (Lot 38 or later) and engineering and modification; verification and validation flight test efforts; maintenance and storage; U.S. Government and contractor engineering/technical assistance; related studies and analysis support; and other related elements of programmatic, technical and logistics support. The total estimated value is $125 million. Australia currently employs the EA-18G and will have no difficulty absorbing this equipment into its armed forces. The proposed sale of this aircraft and follow-on support will not alter the basic military balance in the region. These aircraft will be provided from U.S. Navy stock. There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale. Implementation of the proposed sale will require U.S. Government and contractor personnel to visit Australia on a temporary basis in conjunction with program technical oversight and support requirements, including program and technical reviews. There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale. This notice of a potential sale is required by law. The description and dollar value is for the highest estimated quantity and dollar value based on initial requirements. Actual dollar value will be lower depending on final requirements, budget authority, and signed sales agreement(s), if and when concluded." Source: Defence Security Cooperation Agency (USA)