HO HO HO THIS D*CKHEAD HAS TO GO
The Geelong Advertiser Saturday 23-4-05
Ban on sky jumps
Saturday, April 23
Rebecca Tucker
SKYDIVE City has been shut down for one month after the company was found to have breached safety regulations.
The Australian Parachute Federation has added another ban on the already-restricted company and its operator Luke McWilliam.
Australia's aviation watchdog, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, earlier this month banned all parachutists jumping within a 4.8km radius of Barwon Heads Airport.
That ban was imposed after repeated reports of safety breaches.
But the federation's 28-day suspension only affects Skydive City and was made after allegations the company was last weekend jumping through cloud.
The practice is banned under aviation safety regulations.
Federation chief executive officer Graeme Windsor yesterday confirmed the ban.
Mr Windsor said the federation's ruling effectively prevented Mr McWilliam and the company from taking to the skies.
The federation is skydiving's representative body but also has delegated power from the Civil Aviation Safety Authority to enforce safety rules.
Authority spokesman Peter Gibson said Mr McWilliam remained under investigation to ensure he did not continue to breach safety regulations.
The authority will consider a further ban on Skydive City if it finds the company does not abide by rules.
The authority first tried to ban the company last year following more than 90 complaints against him since 1999.
Mr McWilliam won a Federal Court appeal against the ban and has been in the skies until this week's suspension.
He was last July given a good behaviour bond and ordered to pay Geelong Hospital $10,000 after he pleaded guilty in Geelong Magistrates' Court to 20 counts of jumping through cloud illegal under civil aviation regulations.
Mr McWilliam did not return the Geelong Advertiser's calls yesterday.
All I have to add is POL
