http://www.airservicesaustralia.com/...04/PR25_04.asp
Public Safety is Paramount
No. 25/04
Airservices Australia Chief Executive Officer, Bernie Smith, today called for an end to alarmist and unsubstantiated statements being levelled against the national air traffic control corporation its staff and management and other members of the aviation community.
He made the call following statements made on Perth and Canberra radio stations by Dick Smith.
‘The management of the corporation has come to expect inaccurate remarks from Mr Smith, but when these attack the corporation’s staff, question the integrity of investigating authorities and unnecessarily alarm the public - then enough is enough,” Bernie Smith said.
‘We are considering legal action against Dick Smith concerning a number of his allegations against the corporation and staff,’ he added.
Bernie Smith said the statement “I wouldn’t recommend anyone flying into Canberra at night or in cloud at all, because it looks as if there is a real problem with the radar there’, made on Perth ABC radio station, 720, yesterday was totally irresponsible in the context of an ongoing ATSB inquiry.
Unfortunately, Dick Smith is also seeking to inappropriately link his airspace reform agenda by using a recent tragic accident at Benalla , Victoria and a ground proximity warning event near Canberra.
‘The Australian Transport Safety Bureau is the agency with legislative responsibility for investigating such aviation events, incidents and accidents and the ATSB, our own staff, and others must be free to carry out investigations unimpeded by such speculation.
‘It is highly inappropriate to debate these issues through the media while they are being dealt with by the ATSB, and in the case of Benalla, a likely coronial inquiry,’ Bernie Smith said.
Dick Smith launched legal proceedings against Airservices Australia in the Federal Court this week, to overturn a decision of the Corporation Board to introduce changes to the National Airspace System on 25 November 2004 . This matter will be heard on 1 November 2004.
‘Airservices Australia will not engage in a ‘trial by media’ during these investigations or this current litigation,’ Bernie Smith said.
‘I reassure everyone that in the interests of safety, we are continuing with the implementation program for the 25 November changes, which include comprehensive industry training and education and the distribution of new radio frequency boundaries on aeronautical charts.
‘Airservices Australia ’s primary focus is on safety and it will not bow to the pressures of individuals or groups,’ he said.
For further information contact: Richard Dudley
0412 146 828
Date: 24 September 2004