Gday All
A little more balanced report from the Herald Sun
Skydiving firm faces charges
Milanda Rout
14apr04
THE skydiving company linked to the death of British parachutist Clare Barnes last month has been charged with more than 20 breaches of safety regulations.
The charges are not related to her death, but are the culmination of a separate 30-month inquiry into Skydive City by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.
The charges have been issued by the federal Department of Public Prosecutions against club operator Luke McWilliam and relate to alleged violations of CASA regulations on parachute jumps.
A CASA spokesman said Mr McWilliam would face the charges at a preliminary hearing at Geelong Magistrates' Court on May 14.
He said the matter concerned alleged breaches of CASA regulations that specify how and when operators must conduct skydives.
It is believed some of the charges relate to the operator allegedly allowing parachutists to jump through clouds.
CASA raided the operator's Barwon airport base late last year, carrying out safety checks on light aircraft and seizing a number of items before taking formal action this month.
The charges come just a month after Ms Barnes, daughter of British Government minister Denis MacShane and English TV newsreader Carol Barnes, plunged to her death while skydiving with the club.
The Australian Parachute Federation's interim report into the accident found poor gear maintenance and incorrect packing of the parachutes were the likely cause of the 24-year-old's death.
The report said Ms Barnes was likely to have packed her equipment herself.
South Barwon MP Michael Crutchfield warned of the club's safety record in State Parliament 10 days before Ms Barnes' fatal accident.
He told Parliament that "someone is going to be killed" because of the long-term safety issues with the club.
Mr McWilliam yesterday said his solicitor had received the charges, but he had personally not seen them.
But he welcomed the charges, saying he wanted closure on the matter.
He said the investigation was politically motivated and that the allegations were not true.
And a little more the Today Tonight program channel 7 showed people dropping through cloud and the principle denying it had had occurded.
Can't wait for this to be heard in court
Cheers Q