Regional Aviation DHC6 accident??

[splatman]

I have just heard that Regional Air PNG, (a subsidiary or associated company of Regional Aviation in Cairns) has recently had an accident with one of their DHC6 aircraft.

Evidently some serious damage but not a lot of details around.

Can anyone confirm that an accident did occur and what details if any are available.

Hopefully no injuries.

Cheers.

[SHAGGS]

A Regional Air Twin Otter was involved in an incident at Sturt Island, a few weeks ago. No one was injured. The aircraft suffered significant damage. From my sources, I believe that the incident occured during the take off roll, and the airstrip was very wet. Other than that, don't know any more. I figure that there will be an investigation into the cause, and we can read about it in a few months.

Regional Air, in my veiw, would have to be one of the most proffesional third level airline operators in PNG, if not anywhere. Most of the contracts these guys have are for multi million dollar companies like Oktedi Mining Limited, Lihir Gold etc. The crews operate the aeroplanes in a full two crew capacity, and most of there pilots are Training Captains, and hence they do spend a lot of time and money on initial and re-currency training. One also only has to take a look at there aircraft. The Twin Otters and the King Air that these guys operate would have to be the best maintained aircraft that I have seen, and most of them have all the goodies inside of them, ie moving map and EGPWS etc, to make life easier for the pilots. The company also has aircraft operating in Australia, the Solomon Islands, and New Caledonia.

The authories and the company will find the cause of the incident, and I'm sure some good will come out of it. We can be just thankfull that nobody was injured or killed.

[splatman]

SHAGGS

Thanks for the info, more details are now coming available and yes we are all thankfull no one was injured of killed.

Everyone is certainly entitled to their opinions, and obviously yours of "Regional Air, in my view, would have to be one of the most proffesional third level airline operators in PNG, if not anywhere" is one that needs to be respected.

I would point out however that there are many other opinions out there. You simply would have to ask any one of the half dozen pilots that have left the Australian or New Caledonia Operations over the past 12months for theirs. :yuk:

In my opinion there are some professional aspects, the aircraft equipment for 1. But if you talk professionalism and a safety culture, it takes a lot more than one or two areas. Just think of the swiss cheese model in accident prevention.

Obviously, I am not going to defame the organisation or make any aspurtions on the crew involved as I am unaware of the specific details and certainly that is not my place to do such things. Also, clearly there are different expectations as to what professionalism is and this would obviously be influenced by experience and exposure to different operations. But I can tell you there are many opinions that vary from yours, and with just cause.

Cheers

Splatman

[sedgie]

Hi guys,

The captain under training used the tiller at 60 odd knots to go around a soft spot in the runway. It ended up in tears. Nobody was hurt.

[Ivan Urge]

Well what can one say if that is true. Assuming for one minute that sedgie has heard first hand from either the training capt in the right seat or the trainee capt in the left seat that he used the tiller at such a speed; the guy in the right seat needs to be bollocked for not spelling out very clearly rule number one when flying the twin otter. Dont f**k with the tiller ever until at taxi speed.

[Capt Claret]

Perhaps the TC did spell it out but the trainee was hard of hearing. :}

Heard a story years ago, when ARAQ ruled the QLD islands, of a BASI investigation into a runway excursion @ Dunk (I think). It appears that whilst measuring skid marks and the like, Mr BASI finds evidence of an unreported runway excursion, that was allegedly the result of some competition for the shortest take-off or landing, that went wrong, due to tiller use at too high a speed. :uhoh:

[SHAGGS]

Splatman,
I don't think that I would consider getting any opinions from ex employees, especialy ex Horn Island pilots. Why ? The disgruntled ex employee thing ?
What's your initials EB ?


:}

[Bell Man]

Sedgie,
Check you pilot mail,

:p :p :p :p :p :p :p
Poorikee Naia !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[splatman]

SHAGGS

My initials, EB?- ABSALOUTELY, and I hope you notice that my comments were certainly less than derogatory and based on my opinion as to what determines professionalism. If you know my initials then you know first hand where I am now and the position I hold, and I can assure you I am certainly not disgruntled about that move. So I think you realise just how stupid your disgruntled employee thing carries with me. As far as I am concerned the issues that arose while I was CP have been dealt with and I certainly hold no grudges and would talk to any of the Directors should our paths cross.

As for other EX Horn Island pilots who you claim are disgruntled, well I am not sure why you would say that. I am sure however that those who are with VB or QF are very disgruntled about leaving and embarking on a substantial career. NOT

Further to that, I can say I hold quite a number of the ex Horn Island pilots in high regard with their personal professional approach to their jobs.

On a final note, you appear very defensive in relation to the matter so I am assuming your comment of "most professional" is not an unbiased observation but rather a defensive reaction to the circumstance, perhaps your employed by Regional??

You made a very strong statement in which you claimed your opinion was one that reflected the most professional operators possibly anywhere. I mearly indicated that there were differing opinions out there. No asspurtions that the company is unsafe, or a rogue operator, far from it. But MOST PROFESSIONAL, please, you couldn't possibly compare to the likes of EAA, Sunstate, REX, AirNorth to name a few.

Naturally your substantial background with professional aviation organisations is where you draw your experience for such opinions.

Better still, if you have an issue with any of this why dont you pm or email me to deal with it in person.

Fair warning here SHAGGS, I sat back 12 months ago and watched all sorts of rubbish cross the floor in a public forum with defaming asspurtions based on nothing more than fabricated stories. You would be well advised not to treck down that path.


:mad:

[The Bullwinkle]

SHAGGS

I don't think that I would consider getting any opinions from ex employees, especialy ex Horn Island pilots. Why ? The disgruntled ex employee thing ?

I am certainly not disgruntled. Regional provided me with a vital step along my career path, and I am very grateful for all that they did for me, and the opportunities they gave me to develop my career.
I still maintain contact with the company.

splatman

Factual and forthright as ever !!!!!!!!.................:D

[TWOTBAGS]

So its all happening back there again…….

This is fun to watch from a distance, SSDD.

Yes Regional have helped many a pilot onto bigger and better things, having said that it was the best move I ever made. SS, Speaker, and is the Fink still in the pacific to name a few.

Regional do get ticks and crosses like every operator down there. Having now experienced the luxury of JAR OPS 145 quality maintenance that would make even Jan green with envy. I can say that the straits will always be a revolving door (for flight crew and management) and this always has the effect of destabilization, it depends on the individual from there.

Splatman, gotta say I agree. Some people may be disgruntled but come on guys, every been into the pub up there and not bumped into someone that had the dirts with the company they worked for on any day.

You no Gateway customer, you Wongai customer…….. ring a bell.

Once you are out you begin to realize that it was usually the best thing that could have happened. It certainly was for me, in many respects.

Back in Sydney next month for my annual trip home, anyone who is about drop me a line.

Cheers
Bags
:E

[Kubin rock climber]

Hey, I'm still nooooo gateway customer!!!:ok: :ok: :ok: :}

[The Bullwinkle]

Kubin Rock Climber

NO, you WONGAI customer !!!!!!!!!!!!!..................:D :D :D

[Blown Seal]

Shaggs,

quote:
"... and hence they do spend a lot of time and money on initial and re-currency training."

Obviously not enough - the pilot in the left has been dismissed.

Kudos to the guy in the right - apparently he saved the situation from being a lot worse.

quote:
"The Twin Otters and the King Air that these guys operate would have to be the best maintained aircraft that I have seen..."

Maybe you haven't been with the company all that long but I seem to recall a former CP (removed by CASA) who thought he was an engineer and signed off defects in the tech log as "no fault found" only to endorse them again when it suited for maintenance. Or why the delay of maintenance on an a/c that pilots had reported as having assymmetric reverse until it had a runway excursion and very nearly wote the a/c off?

Like an off bottle of wine...looks good but only leaves a bad taste in your mouth:yuk:

[splatman]

Brown Seal,

Former CP (removed by CASA) - did that actually eventuate?

In your words - KUDOS, to CASA if they did!

[Blown Seal]

Splatman,

politely told to find an impartial CP ie non-owner/director.

So they found someone who says "How high" on the way down after being told to jump.:hmm:

Funny how the former GM is gone too - don't know the full story there, maybe they just wanted to get a real professional in to do the job.;)

[fuji]

Regional Air, in my view, would have to be one of the most proffesional third level airline operators in PNG, if not anywhere

Well SHAGGS its not looking to good for you at the moment!!!
How could you possiably compare them to opperators like REX, Eastern, Sunnies etc. Maybe good for PNG i suppose :}

To add to it all got a mate who worked for them in New Cal and said he didn't get paid allowances or anything for going over there and being on stby 12 hours a day 7 days a week. Now thats what i call professional!:hmm: