Safety Issue

In response to the issues that were identified in CASA’s risk-based audit of June 2008, on 30 July 2008 the operator advised CASA of the following actions to rectify those issues:

• the operations manual was being rewritten to:

– bring the operator’s training and checking into line with the regulations and address multi-crew operations

– ensure that base and line checks accurately reflected the operator’s procedures and testing requirements by reference to specific test-content forms

– include the requirement for all inducted pilots to complete ‘wet drill’ training on the use of life jackets and life rafts. The results of that training would be recorded and renewed annually

– ensure the review of ground course theory examinations and that they were corrected to 100% knowledge of the subject

– ensure the completion of formal ground courses and that the training and syllabuses were documented

– ensure that pilots undertook pressurisation endorsement with a minimum training criteria

• several pilots were being retrained as required to meet the operator’s endorsement training requirements
• the operator’s computer-based flight and duty time records were password protected and a monthly copy of each crew member’s record would be printed out and placed on the individual’s file
• flight crews had been informed about the importance of accurately completing paperwork
• the head of training and checking had resigned and a new individual had been approved by CASA
• one pilot who had been identified as not having sufficient in command under supervision hours had been recertified. Subsequently, on 17 September 2008, the operator provided an amended operations manual to CASA for review. That included amendments to Part C of the manual. On 16 December 2008, CASA issued a new Air Operators Certificate to the operator.