CASA investigates
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CASA investigates
Aviation authorities will begin their investigations into the star of Keeping Up With The Joneses on Wednesday, with the Northern Territory-based flight company boss facing fines of thousands of dollars.
Jones is alleged to have committed a host of safety breaches during the 10-episode series, which screened on Network Ten last year, including using a helicopter to tow his 15-year-old son Beau for water-skiing.
The investigation was launched when Civil Aviation Safety Authority investigator Mark Haslam allegedly saw on the program in November a series of safety breaches.
He then watched seven other episodes - available on Channel 10's website - and allegedly identified more breaches.
In March, the authority was granted a warrant to raid the offices of Jones's production company, WTFN, where they seized DVDs containing raw footage and out-takes.
Jones failed in an attempt to have the warrant overturned in the Federal Court this month.
CASA will begin its investigation on Wednesday when an injunction preventing the authority from examining the DVDs expires.
The court also heard that Jones allegedly breached regulations by using a helicopter to collect crocodile eggs without an appropriate licence. He is also accused of drinking alcohol within eight hours of flying and leaving a helicopter unattended with the engine running and rotors turning with children in the back.
The investigator told the court CASA needed to view the unedited footage to prove the offences had been committed - or whether they simply appeared to have occurred because of "an editing issue" or "poetic licence" for TV broadcasting purposes.
A court spokesman said that Jones had not lodged an appeal.
A Channel 10 spokeswoman said the remaining episodes of the series would be screened this year. Jones did not return telephone calls from The Sunday Telegraph.
Jones is alleged to have committed a host of safety breaches during the 10-episode series, which screened on Network Ten last year, including using a helicopter to tow his 15-year-old son Beau for water-skiing.
The investigation was launched when Civil Aviation Safety Authority investigator Mark Haslam allegedly saw on the program in November a series of safety breaches.
He then watched seven other episodes - available on Channel 10's website - and allegedly identified more breaches.
In March, the authority was granted a warrant to raid the offices of Jones's production company, WTFN, where they seized DVDs containing raw footage and out-takes.
Jones failed in an attempt to have the warrant overturned in the Federal Court this month.
CASA will begin its investigation on Wednesday when an injunction preventing the authority from examining the DVDs expires.
The court also heard that Jones allegedly breached regulations by using a helicopter to collect crocodile eggs without an appropriate licence. He is also accused of drinking alcohol within eight hours of flying and leaving a helicopter unattended with the engine running and rotors turning with children in the back.
The investigator told the court CASA needed to view the unedited footage to prove the offences had been committed - or whether they simply appeared to have occurred because of "an editing issue" or "poetic licence" for TV broadcasting purposes.
A court spokesman said that Jones had not lodged an appeal.
A Channel 10 spokeswoman said the remaining episodes of the series would be screened this year. Jones did not return telephone calls from The Sunday Telegraph.
What do you guys think, serious safety breaches or an overzealous regulator trying to find something to do?
Orgininal story here
"CASA will begin its investigation on Wednesday when an injunction preventing the authority from examining the DVDs expires". Very hard to conduct an investigation without access to the evidence......
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Only watched some of the series so won't pass comment on his guilt or otherwise, but having said that, if you are dumb enough to do (or give the impression you did) something dodgy and then put it on national telly, then you can hardly squeal if it raises some eyebrows.
Good luck to him, it makes better telly than those inane endless singing/cooking/dancing/reality race/RBT cops bollocks.
Good luck to him, it makes better telly than those inane endless singing/cooking/dancing/reality race/RBT cops bollocks.
waren9 "Good luck to him, it makes better telly than those inane endless singing/cooking/dancing/reality race/RBT cops bollocks." haha so very true... as for old mate Jones as you guys said... if he is stupid enough to do it on national TV then he is stupid enough to get caught...
On another point its good to see CASA actually get up and do some real Safety work... If only we had a camera to record what some other operators do out there...
On another point its good to see CASA actually get up and do some real Safety work... If only we had a camera to record what some other operators do out there...
If only we had a camera to record what some other operators do out there...
Reminds me of one of my thoughts about the new draft Part 61 rules - all set up to allow third party organisations, such as the Victorian speed camera operators, to offer a service to CASA in collecting evidence.
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If only we had a camera to record what some other operators do out there... 19th Jun 2011 15:02
Amazing what you see on FB or Utube put there by the pilots themselves or by unwary passengers.
YouTube - ‪HOFO TEST FLIGHT‬‏
Last edited by 004wercras; 28th Jun 2011 at 23:10. Reason: replacing lost video link
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That last link is a mustering flight. No issues there. Simply looking for cattle to muster with appropriate low level endorsements being held.
An optimist always sees the bright side!
Me thinks some of the Jones's issues may appear vastly different when the full footage is reviewed.
An optimist always sees the bright side!
Me thinks some of the Jones's issues may appear vastly different when the full footage is reviewed.
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That mustering link might be ok. But the Kakadu link might raise a few eyebrows. I swear I can hear the GPWS going off in the last bit. Maybe getting a little to close the the valley wall on the other side???
That last link is a mustering flight. No issues there. Simply looking for cattle to muster with appropriate low level endorsements being held.
GG, Clearly it's low level VFR nav due stress of weather!
As to the second one, that's certainly due stress of *cough* (perfect) weather
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Low Flying Kakadu
This flight was apparently a test flight after the aircraft had come out of heavy maintenance! The video was taken by a non-crew member and it is only part of the full video.
This flight was in contravention of the operators low level approval and flown at close to max speed in total contravention of the low level SOPs. The ground prox audio warning was not ownly ignored but was not reported to the relevant authorities!
This flight was in contravention of the operators low level approval and flown at close to max speed in total contravention of the low level SOPs. The ground prox audio warning was not ownly ignored but was not reported to the relevant authorities!
So what gives:
So this mob, unlike the rest of us, are legally and politically immune to adherance to the regs??
This flight was apparently a test flight after the aircraft had come out of heavy maintenance! The video was taken by a non-crew member and it is only part of the full video.
This flight was in contravention of the operators low level approval and flown at close to max speed in total contravention of the low level SOPs. The ground prox audio warning was not ownly ignored but was not reported to the relevant authorities!
This flight was in contravention of the operators low level approval and flown at close to max speed in total contravention of the low level SOPs. The ground prox audio warning was not ownly ignored but was not reported to the relevant authorities!
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But the Kakadu link might raise a few eyebrows. I swear I can hear the GPWS going off in the last bit. Maybe getting a little to close the the valley wall on the other side???
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Dornier valid training, Cessna might have been doing the low run of a "precautionary search and landing" checking out landing areas in the riverbed - no problems!