The Mercury, MICHELLE PAINE, May 29, 2013
HOBART Airport will leave the runway lights on until after the last flight each day following an inquiry by the national air safety watchdog.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau investigation followed a night-time incident on December 14 last year in which a Jetstar flight took off without runway lights.
Hobart airport had a system under which pilots were required to activate the runway lights themselves, but two different codes are used at different airports.
The crew on the Airbus A320 entered the codes incorrectly, leaving the runway in the dark.
The ATSB report, released today, said Jetstar had advised that the flight crew had been reminded about the two different activation systems.
The airline has also reviewed training programs relating to non-towered aerodromes.
While Hobart airport does have a tower, it is not always manned.
Hobart airport also said it would manually activate lighting when there were unscheduled flights.
So how is this different to the QF incident at YMLT a few years ago in which the skipper was charged, tried (
although ultimately not convicted??
PS: Sorry, hadn't heard the case had been thrown out but pleased to hear it.