Thylacine
17th Sep 2004, 03:59
SMH
By Robert Wainwright
September 17, 2004
Two Melbourne air traffic controllers have been stood down after preliminary investigations into the death of six people aboard a plane which crashed on a flight from Bankstown to the Victorian town of Benalla two months ago.
The fallout from the tragedy is set to reignite a verbal war over aviation safety as the Federal Government prepares to overhaul the way air space is managed.
Inquiries by the Herald have revealed that Airservices Australia board members discussed the crash a month ago, including detail that the pilot, Kerry Endicott, was not warned on three occasions that he had drifted dangerously off course on the Ulladulla-Benalla leg of the journey.
By the time the plane reached the crash site an hour later, it was 12 kilometres south of the check- point Mr Endicott thought he was heading towards.
He had been flying in cloud cover and rain that made it impossible to realise his error. When he banked left to prepare to land, the Piper Cheyenne crashed into mountainous countryside, killing all on board instantly.
The families of the victims spoke yesterday for the first time since the July 28 tragedy. They are concerned about time it will take authorities to finish their investigations and potential safety problems for others in the meantime.
David Henderson is mourning his brother, businessman Robert Henderson, and niece, Jacqui Stark. They died along with Jacqui's husband, Alan, his friend Geoff Brockie, Belinda Andrews and Mr Endicott.
Mr Henderson said the preliminary report from the Australian Transport Safety Bureau made it clear the plane crashed because it was off course and that Mr Endicott, an experienced pilot, punched the wrong co-ordinates into GPS equipment.
However, they do not know why the plane was allowed to veer almost four degrees from its designated flight path, through controlled air space for hundreds of kilometres between Ulladulla and the Albury border before it disappeared from radar.
They cannot understand why authorities have not told the flying community about the dangers, particular as it will take at least another year before the bureau makes its final report.
Many within the aviation community believe the reason for the silence is concern that the tragedy will be blamed on the controversial air space category known as G-airspace, where authorities say it is too expensive to control air travel.
The public needs some action now, not in 12 months' time when they finish their report," Mr Henderson said yesterday.
"I'm not after blaming someone, but I am concerned that air traffic procedures do not appear to be as robust as we are told. Why else would a highly qualified, professional pilot flying a well-maintained and equipped plane have this type of accident.
"I have asked both the ATSB and Civil Aviation Safety Authority to put out some statement, some warning, but it all seems too hard.
"If there is another accident in the meantime, then I believe they should be held accountable."
Barry and Lex Stark, parents of Alan, who was a Black Hawk helicopter pilot, have been even more frustrated since the accident; ignored by aviation authorities who have not even telephoned their Queensland home to inform them of the impending report.
"I did not appreciate being left out of the loop, particularly when there are so many unanswered questions about why they were so far off track. It seems ridiculous that authorities are sitting there with millions of dollars of equipment, simply noting that an aircraft in bad weather is off track and doing nothing about it.
"People should be made aware of the problems."
Like the other family members, Geoff Brockie's aunt, Joy Fletcher, has visited the crash site and is shocked the pilot could have been so far off course. Mr Brockie had joined what was a joy flight for the afternoon and was due to pilot an international Qantas flight out of Melbourne the same night.
"We haven't been told anything beyond what has been said publicly, and that is not enough to answer our questions. It seems amazing that they could fly so far, through several control zones without a warning. It makes you wonder about other flights."
Airservices Australia remained silent yesterday. It is understood that initial internal inquiries told the board of three occasions before the plane flew into uncontrolled air space that the pilot could have been warned about his flight path.
Mr Henderson has met the Civil Aviation Safety Authority and asked for changes to air space management. But a spokesman for the authority said yesterday its hands were tied until the bureau finished its report.
The Minister for Transport, John Anderson, has announced that Airservices Australia will be stripped of its air space regulatory functions if the Government is re-elected. The power would be transferred to a separate body - the Airspace Directorate.
By Robert Wainwright
September 17, 2004
Two Melbourne air traffic controllers have been stood down after preliminary investigations into the death of six people aboard a plane which crashed on a flight from Bankstown to the Victorian town of Benalla two months ago.
The fallout from the tragedy is set to reignite a verbal war over aviation safety as the Federal Government prepares to overhaul the way air space is managed.
Inquiries by the Herald have revealed that Airservices Australia board members discussed the crash a month ago, including detail that the pilot, Kerry Endicott, was not warned on three occasions that he had drifted dangerously off course on the Ulladulla-Benalla leg of the journey.
By the time the plane reached the crash site an hour later, it was 12 kilometres south of the check- point Mr Endicott thought he was heading towards.
He had been flying in cloud cover and rain that made it impossible to realise his error. When he banked left to prepare to land, the Piper Cheyenne crashed into mountainous countryside, killing all on board instantly.
The families of the victims spoke yesterday for the first time since the July 28 tragedy. They are concerned about time it will take authorities to finish their investigations and potential safety problems for others in the meantime.
David Henderson is mourning his brother, businessman Robert Henderson, and niece, Jacqui Stark. They died along with Jacqui's husband, Alan, his friend Geoff Brockie, Belinda Andrews and Mr Endicott.
Mr Henderson said the preliminary report from the Australian Transport Safety Bureau made it clear the plane crashed because it was off course and that Mr Endicott, an experienced pilot, punched the wrong co-ordinates into GPS equipment.
However, they do not know why the plane was allowed to veer almost four degrees from its designated flight path, through controlled air space for hundreds of kilometres between Ulladulla and the Albury border before it disappeared from radar.
They cannot understand why authorities have not told the flying community about the dangers, particular as it will take at least another year before the bureau makes its final report.
Many within the aviation community believe the reason for the silence is concern that the tragedy will be blamed on the controversial air space category known as G-airspace, where authorities say it is too expensive to control air travel.
The public needs some action now, not in 12 months' time when they finish their report," Mr Henderson said yesterday.
"I'm not after blaming someone, but I am concerned that air traffic procedures do not appear to be as robust as we are told. Why else would a highly qualified, professional pilot flying a well-maintained and equipped plane have this type of accident.
"I have asked both the ATSB and Civil Aviation Safety Authority to put out some statement, some warning, but it all seems too hard.
"If there is another accident in the meantime, then I believe they should be held accountable."
Barry and Lex Stark, parents of Alan, who was a Black Hawk helicopter pilot, have been even more frustrated since the accident; ignored by aviation authorities who have not even telephoned their Queensland home to inform them of the impending report.
"I did not appreciate being left out of the loop, particularly when there are so many unanswered questions about why they were so far off track. It seems ridiculous that authorities are sitting there with millions of dollars of equipment, simply noting that an aircraft in bad weather is off track and doing nothing about it.
"People should be made aware of the problems."
Like the other family members, Geoff Brockie's aunt, Joy Fletcher, has visited the crash site and is shocked the pilot could have been so far off course. Mr Brockie had joined what was a joy flight for the afternoon and was due to pilot an international Qantas flight out of Melbourne the same night.
"We haven't been told anything beyond what has been said publicly, and that is not enough to answer our questions. It seems amazing that they could fly so far, through several control zones without a warning. It makes you wonder about other flights."
Airservices Australia remained silent yesterday. It is understood that initial internal inquiries told the board of three occasions before the plane flew into uncontrolled air space that the pilot could have been warned about his flight path.
Mr Henderson has met the Civil Aviation Safety Authority and asked for changes to air space management. But a spokesman for the authority said yesterday its hands were tied until the bureau finished its report.
The Minister for Transport, John Anderson, has announced that Airservices Australia will be stripped of its air space regulatory functions if the Government is re-elected. The power would be transferred to a separate body - the Airspace Directorate.