The Pel-Air and Rex Saab 340 flight crew operating manuals did not include reference to the location and operation of the cross-valve handle or smoke curtain.
Pel-Air has ceased conducting freight operations using the Saab 340 aircraft and has since sold the aircraft. Accordingly, the safety issue is no longer relevant to Pel-Air.
Rex has amended the internal inspection checklist within the Saab 340 FCOM to highlight to their flight crews the required cross-valve handle position prior to flight. The ATSB is satisfied that the safety action undertaken has adequately addressed the safety issue for Rex.
On 4 May 2023, Rex issued an Operations Notice to all pilots, highlighting the guidance on the cross-valve handle as outlined in the Saab Aircraft Operating Manual (AOM) and has included this as a revision in the supplementary procedures section of the flight crew operating manual (FCOM).
On 13 November 2024, Rex amended the internal inspection checklist that is contained in their Saab 340 FCOM. The amendment now requires flight crews verify the position of the cross-valve handle during the pre-flight checks.
While Pel-Air no longer conducts freight operations using Saab 340 aircraft, Rex continues to operate ‘quick change aircraft’ which are fitted with the cross-valve system. Quick change aircraft are designed so that they can be operated in a passenger configuration and then quickly changed to then operate in a freighter configuration, depending on operator requirements. As such, the safety issue also relates to Rex operations.
Pel-Air ceased freight operations in its Saab 340 aircraft and therefore this safety action is no longer applicable. However, before they ceased operation, the Pel-Air FCOM had a revision to the weight and balance section for the fitment of the smoke barrier curtain. However, this information was not included in a pre-flight checklist for aircraft preparation, which served to inform flight crews of its use.
