There's a repeat of the prgram on Friday afternoon at 16:00 on SBS.
A transcript will also become available from the
Insight website.
Here's the outline, as qouted from the
SBS website
FLIGHT CONTROL
INSIGHT investigates serious allegations made against the bodies that control the air, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, (CASA) and the Australian Transport Safety Bureau, (ATSB).
A former CASA manager and other aviation operators say the Civil Aviation Safety Authority engages in vindictive actions, which put many companies out of business. They say the vindictive action includes suspensions and cancellations for reasons which have nothing to do with public safety.
The allegations come at a time when the small aircraft industry is experiencing one of the largest economic down turns in Australia’s history. Dozens of companies have gone bust and many blame CASA.
On INSIGHT on Thursday July 17 at 8.30pm on SBS Television, Antony Balmain also investigates how CASA and the ATSB are accused of getting the major Whyalla Air investigation “very wrong”. The accusations come a week ahead of findings due to be handed down by the South Australian Coroner over the Whyalla Air disaster of May 31, 2000.
The Whyalla Air Piper Chieftain plane crashed in to the Spencer Gulf in South Australia. Eight people died, including the pilot.
It was the first Chieftain to go down in Australia’s history and after a costly investigation the ATSB, came up with a theory that the engine damage was caused by lean running, that is, using less fuel.
INSIGHT is told that leading international and Australian scientists disagree, however, with the ATSB and the scientists have evidence that the crash was caused NOT by the lean running by most probably by a faulty engine from the manufacturer.
INSIGHT reports that in February 1999, 14 months before the Whyalla crash, the US engine manufacturer, Textron Lycoming, issued the first of its warnings about crankshafts. Last year the company recalled engines due to faulty metal in its engines. The left engine of the Whyalla Air plane that crashed was among those listed for recall.
GG