MERGED: Pilot alleged to have sabotaged engines on his rival's aircraft

[continueapproach737]

i think we will see more come out of this and from a regulatory front

[The Wawa Zone]

342 charges ?! Its amazing he had time to sleep.

And CASA 'didn't know'

[Horatio Leafblower]

i think we will see more come out of this and from a regulatory front

A new section of the CASRs detailing the procedure for adding glass beads to engines?

...or a 5-year transition period in which all operators must publish a Glass Bead Management System, including Glass Bead-in-engine awareness training, Glass Bead Management officers, Glass Bead reporting officers, and a Glass Bead review Officer.

All new Glass Bead management personnel must have 10 years industry experience in the Glass Bead management arena in an aviation context, or a Master's degree in Aviaiton management with a major in Crochet and a responsible Service of Alcohol certificate.

Failure to inplement a Glass Bead Management System is an offence of strict liability. Penalty: 500 penalty units.

[kaz3g]

Where does it say he got bail? What I read had him remanded in custody.

Kaz

[onetrack]

Kaz, the article I read on the News.com.au website says he was bailed.

Qld pilot charged with sabotaging aircraft

EDIT: The article in the Brisbane Times enlarges on the bail issue. Hoch was granted bail on $50,000 surety - but it appears he is unable to post it, and it looks like neither any of his family nor any of his remaining friends are prepared to post surety for him, either - so it does appear he's going to remain in custody.
I agree with the prosecuting Sgt who opposed bail, stating that Hoch is a major flight risk from Australia (not just the State) - and the penalty on 5 of the charges he's facing, is life imprisonment for each charge.
I would trust he gets it, if the charges are proven.

Queensland pilot Josh Hoch granted bail once he supplies surety

[clark y]

Is this associated with the "Cessna looses wing?????" thread?


http://www.pprune.org/pacific-genera...oses-wing.html

RatsoreA:

"Confirmed it happened at charters towers, wind strut bolt removed, fairings refitted, folded up over the cabin at about 25 knots GS on TO roll. Being treated as a deliberate act by persons currently unknown."

[aroa]

Some interesting comments re this "saboteur" in todays Oz.

If you thought CAsA was occassionly dysfunctional, imho..I think this proves they are just normally super dysfunctional.!


Rest assured there will be much over time burnt in cobbling up a CYA 101 major excuses out of the Fort.
Its the CAsA way.

[westhawk]

Just read about this in Avweb this morning. I know we have a few rough characters in aviation, but if the allegations are true, this guy would take the cake. Shame he can't be punished in Texas!

[kaz3g]

Kaz, the article I read on the News.com.au website says he was bailed.]

I confess I'm rather surprised that bail, even with surety, was granted in all the circumstances. Clearly his "friends" know him better than the bench.

Kaz

[Pinky the pilot]

Take him out behind the Engine overhaul shop for a frank exchange of views!

[kaz3g]

Having just read a lot more about the alleged offences and the circumstances in which they occurred without obvious intervention by the Regulator, it seems to me there has never been greater justification for a commonwealth crime and corruption commission.

kaz

[tail wheel]

Kathryn's Report: Call for urgent report on pilot Josh Hoch

[troppo]

342 counts over 3 years. On average, about once every 3 days. The defence lawyer is going to have a hard time convincing anyone it was an isolated event.

[Duck Pilot]

Does CASA have the authority to assess an AOC holders financial viability at any given time?

Don't see FOIs out hiding behind trees in remote locations these days either, aren't they allowed out of their air conditioned den?

[tail wheel]

Does CASA have the authority to assess an AOC holders financial viability at any given time?

Yes, and they tried that for awhile. The problem was no one could fairly interpret a set of accounts, even their external consultants. They must also be extremely careful in delving into financial records as the Act prohibits CASA regulating on an economic basis.

On average, about once every 3 days.

There was not 342 individual, separate acts. Most individual acts resulted in multiple offenses.

[wishiwasupthere]

I'm no lawyer, so excuse my ignorance, but are these charges that have been bought upon this character criminal charges separate from any potential breaches of the Civial Aviation laws?

Can the police charge a person for breaches of civil aviation laws, or is it possible that further charges will be bought upon by CASA?

And playing devils advocate for the moment, is it possible that CASA was instructed to continue as 'ops normal' in thier dealings with this guy whilst the police investigation was happening in the background? Its going to be very interesting how this story pans out.

[morrismini1100]

[QUOTE=tail wheel;9656919]They must also be extremely careful in delving into financial records as the Act prohibits CASA regulating on an economic basis.

@tailwheel: this hasn't stopped them in the past! So will be interesting to see what are charges are laid under the Aviation Safety Regulations and. What are under the criminal code

[tail wheel]

And playing devils advocate for the moment, is it possible that CASA was instructed to continue as 'ops normal' in thier dealings with this guy whilst the police investigation was happening in the background?

Renewing an AOC of a known felon is not "ops normal". The Act prohibits CASA "facilitating" illegal acts during the investigation. It would be the same as the Cops lending a robber a gun so he could be caught committing further illegal acts.

CASA admits they knew he operated "without a licence" between 2012 and 2016 (what ever that means) and other illegal acts including aircraft overloading but took no action and renewed his AOC for four years in December 2016, two months after it has been confirmed they were involved in the investigation.

No doubt CASA owes Australia a detailed explanation?

[morrismini1100]

Originally Posted by tail wheel

Renewing an AOC of a known felon is not "ops normal". The Act prohibits CASA "facilitating" illegal actions during the investigation. It would be the same as the Cops lending a robber a gun so he could be caught committing further illegal acts.

CASA admits they knew he operated "without a licence" between 2012 and 2016 (what ever that means) and other illegal acts including aircraft overloading but took no action and renewed his AOC in December, two months after it has been confirmed they were involved in the investigation.

No doubt CASA owes Australia a detailed explanation?

Seems like the minister is now involved too:

No Cookies | Townsville Bulletin

[The Wawa Zone]

Sabotage of aircraft ? Probably more common than most people think. I once found 3 x more water in one wing tank, of an aircraft I was flying daily, than I had ever drained before or after. The cap and seals were in good condition.