Lefty suggest you take a look at the following link in regards to LHR:
ef-121779 pdf
That rather large FOI released pdf was recently updated because someone noticed that there were missing pages and consequently made a complaint to the Information Commissioner. This led to FF having to do a further search for said missing docs. Then through a typically convoluted process three missing pages miraculously turned up (wonders will never cease!) and now have been appended to the original ef-121779 pdf. {Note: I might add that this was done without any explanation/apology or with a re-issue of the original document on the FF FOI disclosure log with an amended date...sneaky buggers!
} {Note 2: You can view when the PDF was appended by going into properties etc}
So what were the missing pages?
Ok go to PDF page 181-183 or FOI numbers (written in the top rh corner) 565-563. You will see that these pages relate to the Flight Ops section (069 Checklist) of the Transair port approval for LHR and was dated 01/10/04.
Now if you scroll back up to PDF page 174 you will see the official FF AOC variation for the addition of LHR as an approved RPT port dated the 05 October 2004. {Note:That would have to be close to a world record for FF to process a port approval variation to an RPT AOC, especially to a topographically challenged, potentially high risk port such as LHR!}
Now you will be asking
..."what does that have to do with the ATSB investigation??" Well if you scroll through the many and varied variations/additions and keep at the back of your mind how long these changes etc would normally take to administer and be properly approved by FF you will see that there is a systemic pattern of rubber stamping going on. And in the case of the ATSB surely when they were reviewing the Transair AOC (see
appendix H) they should have seen this in the context of their investigation...I mean even a layman can see what was going on FFS!
Q/ Wonder if they even bothered to do a proper proving flight??
ps I also suggest the DN Brasilia crash report should be added to the TSB bucket list.
