The Microflite Operator Proficiency Checks did not include a mandatory instrument flight component for their day visual flight rules pilots. This would have reduced the risk of a loss of control event following an inadvertent instrument meteorological conditions encounter.
The ATSB acknowledges that Microflite will include an instrument flight component on their operator proficiency checks, however, training will not be mandated and will only be conducted on a resource availability basis. Therefore, as the instrument flight component is not guaranteed for all the operator’s pilots, the safety issue of reducing the risk of loss of control after inadvertent entry into instrument meteorological is only partially addressed.
On 6 April 2023, Microflite advised the ATSB that they had reviewed their operator proficiency check for their day visual flight rules (VFR) pilots and added knowledge and practical skills checks for avoiding and recovering from inadvertent entry into instrument meteorological conditions (IMC).
On 21 November 2023, Microflite advised the ATSB that:
