DCA
CAA expert replaced for his strict stance: Report
By YEHIURA HRIEHWAZI
A CIVIL Aviation Authority’s airworthiness expert in PNG has been replaced because of his strict adherence to safety standards, aviation industry sources said yesterday.
The engineering and safety expert (named) is an Australian who was the prime figure in charge of certification programmes of the controversial Russian-built helicopters – Mil-8s and KA-32s.
His contract was not renewed when it expired last November.
The expert had grounded the KA-32s for several years and removed the Mil-8s from operations around last May when they did not meet PNG’s certification standards.
However, CAA chief executive Joseph Kintau is alleged to have over-ruled that decision and issued a directive for the regulator to allow the helicopters to fly again.
Industry sources said this officer’s superiors in the air safety division of CAA recommended that the engineering expert be retained and his contract renewed but Mr Kintau rejected his retention outright.
Mr Kintau is understood to have recruited another person who resigned from CAA two years ago over some professional disagreements.
Aviation sources described the Australian, who had left the country, as a “very competent and incorruptible” person.
“They need to be if the office of the regulator is to maintain its impartiality and integrity,” a source said.
The airworthiness expert returned to Australia last weekend, causing ripples in the aviation circles, both in PNG and in Australia.
International Civil Aviation Organisation’s auditors will be in PNG next week to probe CAA’s regulatory and safety procedures and, if PNG fails the audit, PNG-registered aircraft could be refused entry to other countries.
Meanwhile, aviation sources said Air Niugini was concerned about what was happening at CAA and would like to see the Australian’s contract renewed as he was involved in the certification of one of its newly acquired aircraft. Air Niugini won an international safety award last month.
The National also understands that the Minister for Works, Transport and Civil Aviation, Don Polye, has been briefed on the seriousness of the situation at CAA and he wanted to see the problems resolved as soon as possible.
In another development, Mr Kintau was alleged to have threatened the sacking of another expatriate recently in the CAA safety division, over the Mil-8s certification issue during a heated discussion.
The National contacted the expatriate yesterday but he refused to confirm or deny the incident in the media, saying he was a contract officer working according to the rules.
Mr Kintau has not responded to a series of questions hand-delivered to his office last week followed by numerous telephone calls – even as late as yesterday afternoon.
Meanwhile, Eastern Highlands Governor Malcolm Kela-Smith, who owns Pacific Helicopters, is said to be fuming over the revelations and had indicated raising the issue in Parliament.