Wirraway
4th Nov 2003, 17:44
Asia Pulse
Australia's Virgin Blue Fails To Meet Door Security Deadline
CANBERRA, Nov 4 Asia Pulse - Budget carrier Virgin Blue had failed to meet the deadline for installing reinforced cockpit doors on all of its aircraft, a Senate committee heard today.
Apart from a glitch which saw one Qantas plane undergo extra maintenance work after a storm, Qantas had complied and met the November 1 deadline for installation.
But Virgin Blue was having trouble securing the new cockpit doors from the supplier and the airline had been given until March to comply with the order from the peak international aviation body.
Reinforced cockpit doors were among the measures introduced in the wake of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States in which four planes were hijacked.
The new rules applied to all aircraft carrying more than 60 passengers and certified to have a take-off weight of up to 45,500 kilograms.
Dr Andy Turner, assistant secretary for aviation security policy in the Transport Department, said the deadline for installing the cockpit doors had been extended.
"There is a good deal of negotiation going on with some airlines who are having difficulty with actually obtaining sufficient doors to install in all of their aircraft," Dr Turner told the Senate committee.
"There are arrangements in place where the airlines can demonstrate they have practical problems in obtaining the supplies, not for any other reason ... to extend the deadline to the first of March next year.
"But there is a requirement they put in place alternative arrangements for securing the cockpit such as locking an existing door or having additional staff on board or some other additional arrangements."
Dr Turner said Virgin was yet to schedule their maintenance works to have the special doors fitted.
The airline had been given another four months to meet the requirements, and some of their planes had already been fitted.
"We're still in correspondence with Virgin Blue about scheduling their maintenance to ensure all their aircraft are done by the end of March," Dr Turner said.
"Because they've got problems in actually securing the doors from the suppliers, yes, they've got till the end of March so it's a question of when they can get the doors and install them."
Another transport security official, Andrew Tongue, said despite the delay, Virgin was running a secure operation that met international standards.
ASIA PULSE
==========================================
Australia's Virgin Blue Fails To Meet Door Security Deadline
CANBERRA, Nov 4 Asia Pulse - Budget carrier Virgin Blue had failed to meet the deadline for installing reinforced cockpit doors on all of its aircraft, a Senate committee heard today.
Apart from a glitch which saw one Qantas plane undergo extra maintenance work after a storm, Qantas had complied and met the November 1 deadline for installation.
But Virgin Blue was having trouble securing the new cockpit doors from the supplier and the airline had been given until March to comply with the order from the peak international aviation body.
Reinforced cockpit doors were among the measures introduced in the wake of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States in which four planes were hijacked.
The new rules applied to all aircraft carrying more than 60 passengers and certified to have a take-off weight of up to 45,500 kilograms.
Dr Andy Turner, assistant secretary for aviation security policy in the Transport Department, said the deadline for installing the cockpit doors had been extended.
"There is a good deal of negotiation going on with some airlines who are having difficulty with actually obtaining sufficient doors to install in all of their aircraft," Dr Turner told the Senate committee.
"There are arrangements in place where the airlines can demonstrate they have practical problems in obtaining the supplies, not for any other reason ... to extend the deadline to the first of March next year.
"But there is a requirement they put in place alternative arrangements for securing the cockpit such as locking an existing door or having additional staff on board or some other additional arrangements."
Dr Turner said Virgin was yet to schedule their maintenance works to have the special doors fitted.
The airline had been given another four months to meet the requirements, and some of their planes had already been fitted.
"We're still in correspondence with Virgin Blue about scheduling their maintenance to ensure all their aircraft are done by the end of March," Dr Turner said.
"Because they've got problems in actually securing the doors from the suppliers, yes, they've got till the end of March so it's a question of when they can get the doors and install them."
Another transport security official, Andrew Tongue, said despite the delay, Virgin was running a secure operation that met international standards.
ASIA PULSE
==========================================