Pilots welcome Xenophon aviation Senate inquiry

[Admin]

Media Release: Pilots welcome Xenophon aviation Senate inquiry as vital for ensuring best possible air safety for Australian passengers

 

 

 

MEDIA RELEASE

 

30 September 2010

 

 

 

 

 

Pilots welcome Xenophon aviation Senate inquiry as vital for ensuring

 

best possible air safety for Australian passengers

 

A Senate inquiry into pilot training, experience requirements, retention of

 

experienced aviators, regulation and incident reporting has been welcomed by

 

Australian pilots who believe it is essential for maintaining the nations

 

exceptional air safety record.

 

The Australian and International Pilots Association (AIPA) said many

 

Australians, including some in the parliament, were complacent about aviation

 

safety and that a rigourous investigation of the strengths and weaknesses of

 

the current regulatory system was essential to maintain our world class safety

 

record.

 

“Australian pilots wholeheartedly support Senator Nick Xenophon’s referral

 

today of a number of important issue to the Rural Affairs and Transport

 

References Committee which go to the heart of ensuring the safety of

 

Australian air travellers,” said AIPA president Captain Barry Jackson.

 

“We particularly welcome the investigation of pilot experience requirements,

 

safety impacts of any reduction in flight hour requirements, recent US law

 

changes requiring a minimum of 1,500 flight hours before operating regular

 

public transport services, ways to retain experienced pilots, regulatory bodies

 

ability to deal with rapidly advancing technologies and incident reporting.

 

“In recent years we have seen a number of serious incidents, such as the

 

Jetstar flight that came within meters of a the runway in heavy fog in

 

Melbourne in 2007 and the Tiger Airways mid-air incident last year that forced

 

the plane to land but wasn’t reported to the authorities.

 

“Australians should be rightly proud of our nations exemplary aviation record,

 

but this has only come about as the result of the extensive training,

 

experience and dedication of local air crew.

 

“We hope this inquiry will provide the impetus needed to drive air safety into

 

the future, dealing not only with new technological challenges, but also the

 

risks associated by an increasingly cut-throat aviation sector determined to

 

cut costs to compete with Asian cost structures.”

 

Spokesperson: Australian and International Pilots Association President

 

Captain Barry Jackson on 0414 387 684.

 

AUSTRALIAN AND INTERNATIONAL PILOTS ASSOCIATION

 

Sydney: Suite 6.01, Level 6, 243-249 Coward Street, Mascot NSW 2020 Tel: 02 8307 7777

 

Fax: 02 8307 7799

 

Melbourne: Level 2, 326 Keilor Road, Niddrie VIC 3042 Tel: 03 9938 3898 Fax: 03 9938

 

3890

 

 

[Gnarly Gnu]

Some might, I don't.

 

The result of a left / green leaning senator who is also a lawyer looking into the aviation industry sure isn't going to be less red tape and more common sense....

 

 

[facthunter]

examination/ Inquiry..

 

If it is going to happen then WE/US GA Whatever, MUST be represented. You wouldn't want all the noise coming from the AIPA without some from other sections of aviation, or you will just cop more of the same. Nev.

 

 

[facthunter]

Nick Xenophon

 

BR I agree about Nick. He does seem to represent a considered view personally. The trouble with the direction of CASA and the government is that what's good for airlines is all that matters. the heading " Pilots welcome......" should be "SOME PILOTS welcome......" If they are only the AIPA... essentially Qantas, that would be a very onesided input indeed.. I'm not blameing them .Just stating a fact..Nev