I'm begining to wonder if Teresa Green or Kellykelpie are that versed on industry requirements otherwise they wouldn't have trouble grasping the point. For their benefit, the following extracts from the CAOs and the CARs. My emphasis on selected passages:-
From the CAOs:
9 Obligations in relation to route and area qualifications
9.1 Subject to paragraph 9.2, an operator must ensure that a pilot does not act as pilot in
command of an aircraft engaged in a regular public transport service unless the pilot
meets the requirements of subregulation 218 (1).
9.2 Where a pilot has completed an audio-visual briefing as set out in Appendix 2 in
respect of a proposed flight, the pilot is to be taken to have met the requirements of
subregulation 218 (1) in respect of the aerodrome or route which was the subject of
the briefing, if the briefing occurs:
3.7 Briefing for route qualification
3.7.1 For the purposes of 3.5.2 (c) and 3.5.2 (e), the briefing for route qualifications is to
consist of a set of 35mm colour slides and a matched pre-recorded cassette tape
covering as many of the following points as may be relevant to the route under
discussion:
(a) geographic location of the aerodromes comprising the route;
(b) administration:
(i) local time zones;
(ii) documentation to be carried;
(iii) prerequisite qualifications (e.g. physical entry or audio-visual briefing for any
of the en-route aerodromes);
(iv) customs, health and immigration requirements for crew and/or passengers;
(v) fuel policy;
(vi) special equipment or extra personnel to be carried;
(c) navigation and flight-planning:
(i) planned route and alternates/emergency airfields;
(ii) special navigational techniques or limitations;
(iii) controlled airspace/restricted airspace;
(iv) maps and charts;
(v) flight planning;
(vi) weather;
(d) in-flight procedures:
(i) communications;
(ii) altimetry and Air Traffic Control procedures;
(iii) reporting points;
From the CARs:
218 Route qualifications of pilot in command of a regular
public transport aircraft
(1) A pilot is qualified to act in the capacity of pilot in command
of an aircraft engaged in a regular public transport service if the
pilot is qualified for the particular route to be flown in
accordance with the following requirements:
(a) the pilot shall have been certified as competent for the
particular route by a pilot who is qualified for that route;
(b) the pilot shall have made at least one trip over that route
within the preceding 12 months as a pilot member of the
operating crew of an aircraft engaged in any class of
operation;
(c) the pilot shall have an adequate knowledge of the route to
be flown, the aerodromes which are to be used and the
designated alternate aerodromes, including a knowledge
of:
(i) the terrain;
(ii) the seasonal meteorological conditions;
(iii) the meteorological, communication and air traffic
facilities, services and procedures;
(iv) the search and rescue procedures; and
(v) the navigational facilities;
associated with the route to be flown;
(d) the pilot shall have demonstrated either in flight or by
simulated means that he or she is proficient in the use of
instrumental approach-to-land systems which he or she
may utilise in operations on that route; and
(e) the pilot possesses such other qualifications (if any) as
CASA specifies in relation to that route having regard to
any special difficulties of that route.
(1A) A pilot must not act in the capacity of pilot in command of an
aircraft engaged in a regular public transport service if the pilot
is not qualified in accordance with subregulation (1).
There it is, nobody ever said you do it "by flying over it on a route check." My point is that it wouldn't have been an "unknown" airport. If the operator is abiding by the rules, as I expect they are, then the pilots would have been adequately briefed.
Kellykelpie - are you a 'Bus driver? If so, please explain the "unstable" window to me. I'd be informed appropriately along with many others if you can. I don't believe from the reports that it was cracked (that would make it unstable), bolts missing a-la the Trident (that was unstable) so how is it an electrical short makes the window unstable.
Apologies for the long post, but it appears to be necessary to get the point to sink in.