CASA response, as quoted in the ABC article:
"We are doing a lot of research in terms of fuel which is an area normally outside of our expertise and jurisdiction to better understand the fuel supply and manufacturing processes," said Peter Gibson from the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA)."If [pilots] do have a rough-running engine in flight they need to be very careful with the handling of that aircraft and get it on the ground as soon as possible."
I totally fail to understand why CASA states that a critical input to aviation safety, fuel, is "
an area normally outside of our expertise and jurisdiction". Especially since CASA micro manages virtually every other aspect of aviation safety.
To put that another way, CASA specifies in detail how and how much fuel a pilot must load and carry and manage consumption, yet there is no concern given to the possibility that the fuel itself is substandard???? This defies belief. There is a chain of responsibility leading from the refinery to the aircraft engine combustion chamber, yet CASA only wishes to micromanage part of the chain (complete with draconian penalties for non compliance) but gives the fuel companies a free pass. Why aren't fuel companies and their staff facing criminal penalties right now? It's only fair.