Island Airlines grounded

[Wirraway]

ABC News Online
Monday, December 15, 2003. 3:03pm (AEDT)

Island Airlines grounded

Tasmania's Island Airlines has been grounded by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA).

Island Airlines flew between Launceston and Flinders Island.

CASA has suspended the company's air operators certificate because of a large number of alleged breaches.

CASA also says there have been systemic failures within the airline's operations.

In a statement CASA says Island Airlines failed to address problems identified during an audit in September 2003, including defects on an aircraft.

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[Wirraway]

AAP

Airline grounded over safety
December 15, 2003

A TASMANIAN airline had been grounded after failing to adequately address concerns raised in an audit, Australia's air safety watchdog said today.

Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) spokesman Peter Gibson said Island Airlines' air operators certificate was suspended last Friday.

The airline, when went into administration earlier this year, flew to Flinders Island, in the Bass Strait, from northern Tasmania and Victoria.

CASA cited "lack of appropriate corrective action to address problems identified during an audit conducted in September 2003" for its decision to ground the airline.

The problems included defects on an aircraft.

CASA said there had been a large number of breaches, some of which had been repeated.

Mr Gibson said an aircraft had been operated with one engine suffering a cylinder failure.

"They have breached a range of safety regulations a number of times and also failed to maintain a proper corporate identity," he said.

"The ball is now in their court.

"We have given the company the opportunity to come back to us with a plan to address the problems, if indeed they wish to operate again as an airline."

The airline's Melbourne-based administrator was not available for comment today.

AAP

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