Skymaster, Avtex grounded after fatal crash

CASA said last night allowing the companies to continue to operate while safety investigations progressed posed "a serious and imminent risk to air safety". "There have been three serious accidents and a number of incidents involving Skymaster aircraft in the last three months," the watchdog said.

The authority said accidents included a wheels-up landing and a collapsed nose gear on landing. Incidents included a loss of engine power, fuel flow problems and landing gear malfunctions.
"CASA's decision to suspend Skymaster Air Services and Avtex Air Services is also based on issues relating to the safety culture of the operations, aircraft maintenance control and pilot training," it said.

The Bankstown-based company suffered a nose wheel collapse during a flight in western NSW s last Sunday. An Australian Transport Safety Bureau report recently found one of the engines on the plane, which crashed in western Sydney, was "spluttering" moments before it slammed into a street, killing the pilot and his passenger, a nurse. Pilot Andrew Wilson had shut down one engine on his Piper PA31P Mojave aircraft and witnesses reported the spluttering engine sound as the 28-year-old pilot tried to land the plane on a road 6km short of Bankstown Aerodrome, 22km southwest of the CBD, last month.

A witness on nearby Canley Vale Road saw the landing gear extend seconds before the fatal accident on June 15. But Wilson's attempt to get his ailing aircraft on the ground went wrong when its right wing hit a power pole. Wilson and nurse Katherine Sheppard died in the crash.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/skymaster-avtex-grounded-after-fatal-crash/story-e6frg6nf-1225896329587

New laws will fund airline safety with aviation fuel tax...

THE Government says it will spend all the money it raises from a hike in aviation fuel excise on airline safety measures.
Legislation to give effect to the rise, which was flagged in the May Budget, was introduced by Transport Minister Anthony Albanese.

Mr Albanese said the fuel excise would rise by 0.702 cents to 3.556 cents a litre from July 1.

He said this would raise an extra $89.9 million over four years, with all the money going to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), Australia's aviation safety regulator.

The funds would be used to recruit almost 100 extra "frontline safety staff" and ensure CASA can continue random drug testing and expand training.

Debate on the Excise Tariff Amendment (Aviation Fuel) Bill 2010 was adjourned.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/news/new-laws-will-fund-airline-safety-with-aviation-fuel-tax/story-e6frg90f-1225874923204