CASA gives notice to refuse PNG aircraft
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CASA gives notice to refuse PNG aircraft
The following articles (typos unedited) are taken from The National on 13 Jan 2003:
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PX THREATENED
Australia has given notice that it will refuse PNG aircraft into its airspace in two weeks for safety reasons. That is unless the PNG Civil Aviation Authority can provide a safety audit of all aircraft traveling to Australia in line with international aviation regulations. Civil Aviation Safety Australia (CASA) General Manager, Arthur White on December 23, 2002, gave notice that Air Niugini's Australian Air Operator's Certificate (AOC) which expires on January 31 might not be renewed. Mr White's letter reads: "As you know, CASA has some concerns about the capacity of the Civil Aviation Authority of PNG to carry out its safety oversight responsibilities in accordance with its obligations under the convention on International Civil Aviation. CASA is consulting with the CAA of PNG in relation to the safety surveillance of those PNG operators conducting operations to and from Australia. "However, I wanted to alert you at this time to the fact that we are engaged in discussions with the CAA and to advise you that you should not presume that your AOC will be extended beyond January 31, 2003. You may wish to take this into account in your forward planning." Affected will be all aircraft movements into Australia, scheduled or chartered, including those going in for routine maintenance. The threat now places the entire future of the industry in jeopardy. Chairman of the Aviation Representatives Board of PNG, Captain Peter Sharpe said in a letter to this newspaper on Friday: "The Aviation industry in Papua New Guinea, suffering from the effects of the exchange rate (costs in Australian and US Dollars and revenue in Kina) has suffered another blow brought about by the CASA notice. "The future of the aviation industry is at stake. Its operating environment in terms of PNG airspace creditability will factor in elements of aero legal and insurance problems. There are seriously problems associated with the stand of service provided by CAA and the industry has expressed concern over the past two years that CAA, who are the service provider for which the industry has to pay, is the regular. "Clearly the industry is entitled to a better deal. That the situation has deteriorated to such an extent is a clear reflection of inability to perform. The entire structure of commercial aviation, tourism, trade, international creditability and recognition will be brought into disrepute. "So will the creditability of the Government." Mr Sharpe said the implications are that other nations with which PNG has bi-lateral airline arrangements with could follow suit. He said: "It is quite likely that other regulatory authorities of countries to which Air Niugini operates will follow suite. It is an intolerable situation and is on a platform that is contemptuous to the industry." Air Niugini, which stands to lose the most, has written to Minister for Transport and Civil Aviation pointing to the enormity of the problem and urging urgent action. Chairman Joseph Tauvasa said on January 2: "Should our AOC (Air Operator Certificate) not be extended due to CASA's concerns about PNG CAA, services between Port Moresby and Cairns will cease on January 31, 2003. "This will have an enormous impact on the whole of PNG and of course the financial viability of Air Niugini. "As this matter is of utmost importance, we respectfully request an urgent meeting with yourself and, at our discretion CAA officials, so as we can fully understand the situation and measures underway to satisfy CAA's requirements." He offered Air Niugini's help should CAA need it to facilitate a solution. Yesterday civil aviation unions, PNG Air Traffic Controllers Association, Civil Aviation National Technical Staff Association, and PNG Airport Fire Fighters Association expressed their concern and blamed the management of CAA for diverting funds to non-essential areas and compromising air safety in this manner. The unions said they supported Minister Polye's move to replace the current management of CAA and urged further changes to top management.
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AIRLINE INDUSTRY IN TURBULENT SITUATION
Repeated negligence by PNG politicians has put the PNG airline industry in jeopardy, an airline industry official has said. In a letter to the public via this newspaper, Aviation Representatives Board of PNG chairman Mr Peter Sharpe said politics, political appointments and political ineptitude are the fundamental cause for Civil Aviation Safety Australia's notice to PNG that its aircrafts will not fly into Australian airspace after Jan 31 unless safety audits are provided by CAA. He noted what appears to be a string of instances of negligence by respective ministers of state. On May 9, aviation industry representative Graym Hawthorne wrote to then Minister for Civil Aviation, Mr Ludger Mond seeking clarification on instructions that the board was not to perform any functions. There was no response to the letter. Subsequent to the elections, Mr Hawthorne wrote to the then CA Minister on Sept 26 expressing concern regarding the creditability of CAA in respect to foreign regulators. Part of the letter reads: "There is every reason to believe that this will cause hardship to Air Niugin and other international operators in the very near future." Mr Hawthorne also made two visits to the minister responsible. He did not get any audience on both occasions. There was no reply to his letter. On Oct 17 "in desperation" Mr Hawthorne wrote to Treasurer Mr Bart Philemon outlining the dilemma facing the industry and briefed the Treasurer in person twice. The industry was told that the Minister responsible for CA was asked to contact the industry. This has not occurred. With no reply and "the situation worsening by the day" Mr Hawthorne went to the highest source. He wrote on Oct 28 to the Prime Minister. To that letter there has been no response as of last Friday. In mid November Mr Hawthorne briefed international operators and a meeting of companies delegates convened on Dec 4, 2002. The meeting was advised that two members of the CAA were to travel to Canberra for discussions with CASA on Dec 19. On Dec 23, CASA gave notice. Coincidentally, the Minister terminated the CAA Board and appointed an acting CEO. Mr Sharpe's letter notes: "At this stage CAA had two chairmen and two CEOs. Is it any wonder the integrity of the Board of CAA and CAA is in question not only by the industry, but by IATA and ICAO." AusAID has reconsidered their plans for funding the Search and Rescue and the CAA Rules Rewrite programs, Mr Sharpe revealed.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PX THREATENED
Australia has given notice that it will refuse PNG aircraft into its airspace in two weeks for safety reasons. That is unless the PNG Civil Aviation Authority can provide a safety audit of all aircraft traveling to Australia in line with international aviation regulations. Civil Aviation Safety Australia (CASA) General Manager, Arthur White on December 23, 2002, gave notice that Air Niugini's Australian Air Operator's Certificate (AOC) which expires on January 31 might not be renewed. Mr White's letter reads: "As you know, CASA has some concerns about the capacity of the Civil Aviation Authority of PNG to carry out its safety oversight responsibilities in accordance with its obligations under the convention on International Civil Aviation. CASA is consulting with the CAA of PNG in relation to the safety surveillance of those PNG operators conducting operations to and from Australia. "However, I wanted to alert you at this time to the fact that we are engaged in discussions with the CAA and to advise you that you should not presume that your AOC will be extended beyond January 31, 2003. You may wish to take this into account in your forward planning." Affected will be all aircraft movements into Australia, scheduled or chartered, including those going in for routine maintenance. The threat now places the entire future of the industry in jeopardy. Chairman of the Aviation Representatives Board of PNG, Captain Peter Sharpe said in a letter to this newspaper on Friday: "The Aviation industry in Papua New Guinea, suffering from the effects of the exchange rate (costs in Australian and US Dollars and revenue in Kina) has suffered another blow brought about by the CASA notice. "The future of the aviation industry is at stake. Its operating environment in terms of PNG airspace creditability will factor in elements of aero legal and insurance problems. There are seriously problems associated with the stand of service provided by CAA and the industry has expressed concern over the past two years that CAA, who are the service provider for which the industry has to pay, is the regular. "Clearly the industry is entitled to a better deal. That the situation has deteriorated to such an extent is a clear reflection of inability to perform. The entire structure of commercial aviation, tourism, trade, international creditability and recognition will be brought into disrepute. "So will the creditability of the Government." Mr Sharpe said the implications are that other nations with which PNG has bi-lateral airline arrangements with could follow suit. He said: "It is quite likely that other regulatory authorities of countries to which Air Niugini operates will follow suite. It is an intolerable situation and is on a platform that is contemptuous to the industry." Air Niugini, which stands to lose the most, has written to Minister for Transport and Civil Aviation pointing to the enormity of the problem and urging urgent action. Chairman Joseph Tauvasa said on January 2: "Should our AOC (Air Operator Certificate) not be extended due to CASA's concerns about PNG CAA, services between Port Moresby and Cairns will cease on January 31, 2003. "This will have an enormous impact on the whole of PNG and of course the financial viability of Air Niugini. "As this matter is of utmost importance, we respectfully request an urgent meeting with yourself and, at our discretion CAA officials, so as we can fully understand the situation and measures underway to satisfy CAA's requirements." He offered Air Niugini's help should CAA need it to facilitate a solution. Yesterday civil aviation unions, PNG Air Traffic Controllers Association, Civil Aviation National Technical Staff Association, and PNG Airport Fire Fighters Association expressed their concern and blamed the management of CAA for diverting funds to non-essential areas and compromising air safety in this manner. The unions said they supported Minister Polye's move to replace the current management of CAA and urged further changes to top management.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AIRLINE INDUSTRY IN TURBULENT SITUATION
Repeated negligence by PNG politicians has put the PNG airline industry in jeopardy, an airline industry official has said. In a letter to the public via this newspaper, Aviation Representatives Board of PNG chairman Mr Peter Sharpe said politics, political appointments and political ineptitude are the fundamental cause for Civil Aviation Safety Australia's notice to PNG that its aircrafts will not fly into Australian airspace after Jan 31 unless safety audits are provided by CAA. He noted what appears to be a string of instances of negligence by respective ministers of state. On May 9, aviation industry representative Graym Hawthorne wrote to then Minister for Civil Aviation, Mr Ludger Mond seeking clarification on instructions that the board was not to perform any functions. There was no response to the letter. Subsequent to the elections, Mr Hawthorne wrote to the then CA Minister on Sept 26 expressing concern regarding the creditability of CAA in respect to foreign regulators. Part of the letter reads: "There is every reason to believe that this will cause hardship to Air Niugin and other international operators in the very near future." Mr Hawthorne also made two visits to the minister responsible. He did not get any audience on both occasions. There was no reply to his letter. On Oct 17 "in desperation" Mr Hawthorne wrote to Treasurer Mr Bart Philemon outlining the dilemma facing the industry and briefed the Treasurer in person twice. The industry was told that the Minister responsible for CA was asked to contact the industry. This has not occurred. With no reply and "the situation worsening by the day" Mr Hawthorne went to the highest source. He wrote on Oct 28 to the Prime Minister. To that letter there has been no response as of last Friday. In mid November Mr Hawthorne briefed international operators and a meeting of companies delegates convened on Dec 4, 2002. The meeting was advised that two members of the CAA were to travel to Canberra for discussions with CASA on Dec 19. On Dec 23, CASA gave notice. Coincidentally, the Minister terminated the CAA Board and appointed an acting CEO. Mr Sharpe's letter notes: "At this stage CAA had two chairmen and two CEOs. Is it any wonder the integrity of the Board of CAA and CAA is in question not only by the industry, but by IATA and ICAO." AusAID has reconsidered their plans for funding the Search and Rescue and the CAA Rules Rewrite programs, Mr Sharpe revealed.
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Does anyone know what CASA is specifying as deficiencies?
Is it purely based upon PNG CAA's inability to audit ANG etc, or does it relate to particular technical inadequacies or ANG a/c or crews, etc. (i.e. EGPWS, Chapter 2/3 noise......)?
Heard gossip that PNG CAA's FOIs don't have the budget or equipment to do proper checks or audits, and some are concerned for their jobs. (perhaps afraid to upset the operators in case they need employment therein?).
Very sad for ANG and the other intl AOC operators in PNG affected, (Hevilift's EMB120, Transair's Citation etc one presumes).
Independence was 1975 - its taken 27 years under local control to reach this point. Just hope the Pollies have the concern and where with all to sort it out.
Any clues.....
Is it purely based upon PNG CAA's inability to audit ANG etc, or does it relate to particular technical inadequacies or ANG a/c or crews, etc. (i.e. EGPWS, Chapter 2/3 noise......)?
Heard gossip that PNG CAA's FOIs don't have the budget or equipment to do proper checks or audits, and some are concerned for their jobs. (perhaps afraid to upset the operators in case they need employment therein?).
Very sad for ANG and the other intl AOC operators in PNG affected, (Hevilift's EMB120, Transair's Citation etc one presumes).
Independence was 1975 - its taken 27 years under local control to reach this point. Just hope the Pollies have the concern and where with all to sort it out.
Any clues.....
Man Bilong Balus long PNG
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Yet another example of a country that has so much potential being ruined by incompetance because self government came too early. And if that sounds too paternalistic for some ......................
Tough!!
I left PNG over ten years ago but even then I was asked nearly every day by locals with whom I had dealings in my job as a 'bush pilot' the same question over and over,
'When taim bilong masta come back?'
I'm told that they are still asking.
Tough!!
I left PNG over ten years ago but even then I was asked nearly every day by locals with whom I had dealings in my job as a 'bush pilot' the same question over and over,
'When taim bilong masta come back?'
I'm told that they are still asking.
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Here we go again !
How is the latest debacle over the procedures for petitions for exemptions and the failure of PX to comply with CAR 121.379 going to affect the CAA, The Hon Minister or as the case seems to be ministers and PX mangement and board.
Any news from any quarters over the breechs - or are we all waiting for the court outcome Friday ??
Any news from any quarters over the breechs - or are we all waiting for the court outcome Friday ??
