Back to BAK, although this is more about airworthiness administration….
Question: Does exceeding VNE have any potential consequences for the airworthiness of an aircraft (and, for the purposes of the question, assume the aircraft reaches VD)?
Question: If your answer to the first question is ‘no’, why do we care about VNE?
You are, hypothetically, the holder of the certificate of registration for and operator of an aircraft. You believe that a pilot you engaged flew the aircraft in excess of its VNE. The pilot denies the allegation but you don’t believe the pilot.
Question: What
regulatory obligations are imposed on you, as the certificate of registration holder/operator of the aircraft, as soon as you form the belief that the aircraft was operated in excess of VNE and you know the pilot took no action because the pilot denies the allegation?
Bonus points question: What reporting obligation was imposed on you by section 19 of the
Transport Safety Investigation Act 2003, as soon you formed the belief that the aircraft was operated in excess of VNE, noting that:
- you are a “responsible person” as defined in reg 13 of the
TSI regs
- “operation outside the aircraft’s approved flight envelope” is on the list of routine reportable matters in reg 12 and VNE is an operating limitation within the definition of “approved flight envelope” in the TSI regs, and
- you know the pilot made no report to ATSB?