Wyndham Aviation.....Charming? (Not)
 

If this is indeed true, Wyndham Aviation sound like a charming bunch of fellows.

Nothing like giving a helping hand to our indigenous brethren when they need it. I wonder if it's possible to confiscate the aircraft and jail the pilots and operators?

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au...3-2702,00.html

Nuthin new there, pilots for the long expired K**gfi***r where chartering the a/c themselves to do the same at Hooker Creek. They were making thousands each flight. They werent the only ones either.:= Actual operators were unaware as they were based in Perth and only saw a charter on the books.

What about this Tailwheel?
 

Surely this is lower fruit for you. I am stating fact and it would appear you are allowing sub-judice?

flying-spike, the posts above relate to matters already in the public domain. As they are direct quotes by the Coroner, derived from reliable witness evidence, one would believe the allegations are true and correct.

Had the potentially defamatory allegations above been made purely on here say with no substantiating evidence (whether in fact, true or untrue), they would have been correctly removed by a Moderator.

Are you sure that CASA are not prosecuting over the alleged overloading? My point is that just because a coronial inquest has been held it doesn't mean that investigation and possible prosecution based on evidence given during the inquest doesn't follow.

Australian law does not work that way. In general, evidence gained from a Coroner's Inquest can not be used as evidence in another Court.

I have no interest in whether CASA prosecute or not. My sole interest is whether the quotes contained in the first post above, exist in the public domain.

If The Australian has been untrue in it's report here, their financial resources to defend a libel and defamation action are significantly greater than PPRuNe's non existent resources to defend a similar action.

Jail the pilots?
 

Sunfish, i don't really see your point here. Any pilot willing to risk his own life, and the lives of others by overloading his/her plane is an absolute freakin moron! So i get that bit.
I don't get your point about the booze running. Is alcohol illegal in this community? If yes then yes the pilots should be charged, and the aircraft confiscated. If not what's you point? Are you saying that our " indigenous brethren" shouldn't be allowed to make decisions regarding their alcohol consumption? Surely you wouldn't advocate imprisoning pilots because they're carrying legal alcohol?

Really not trying to be a smart ass here mate, but it's a big can of worms to open up.

Cheers.

I think he is questioning the ethics of a practice that most of us know has been happening for far too long.

If telling yourself "it's their decision" helps you sleep at night then great.

I don't think anyone is going to be jailed for it.

Why? Its not illegal to charter an aircraft for freight is it?

Well, I believe her and she can show me around the back of that jet any time!

Seriously though, what a bunch of hangers on - and we thought things in NSW were bad. Couldn't believe who was there as WAcareflight expert!

Oombi (AKA Forrest River), is a dry community, but I wonder if they crew have actually done anything wrong (other then morally and overloading the aircraft).

Is it illegal to use somebodies key card if you have their consent? I use my wifes all the time. Booze is not a dangerous goods, so no law broken there. Is there a gazetted bylaw banning the carriage of alcohol into Oombi???

I don't condone this sort of thing. You dont have to look too hard to see the effect of a 'red can' or a 'white lady in da boat' has on the indigenous people. But they should be made accountable for their own community.

I'm amazed though that this story is true. I had always put it down to a Kimberly myth.

this says it all really :)



http://photos-f.ak.facebook.com/phot...181333_135.jpg

Well I actually worked there a few years ago so I can speak having seen it all first hand.

Yes the air charter kept keycards and peoples PIN numbers, up to 55 at one stage while I was there.

The key cards were willingly left by people from this community and Kalumbaru for that matter to pay for flights. More often than not we carried grog on the flights as well people, but very little of the key cards we held were actually used to pay for the grog. They made their own arrangements with the bottle shop in that dept.

While I may not agree with the way many businesses held key cards (dont just single out Wyndham Av!) there was nothing illegal being done. These people have very little understanding of the value of money or how to manage it and if we did not hold there keycards and allow them to pay off flights over a period of time they would not be able to travel or eat! To that i mean if we charged them up front for a full flight in one hit they would have no money left til there next welfare payment. At least this way it was a form of credit and trust between both parties. Many kept a close eye on how much they owed and the owners of these businesses knew if they ever ripped people off news would spread very quickly and they would be out of business.

As for overloading, well it never happened while I was there.

I dont think you can blame the pilots for any of this. Like previous people have said, no rules were broken, while I am not condoning it, it opened my eyes to how the Aboriginal welfare system operates, and how businesses operate in the Kimberely. It has left me with a scathing view on the whole welfare system and the aboriginal communites. Like Monople said these communities need to be held responsible for themselves and not try to blame everyone else.

It is definately true.

I agree though...they are adults responsible for their own actions. No-one is forcing them to charter aircraft full of booze

MACH082

You may wish to delete the first photograph. It is now a long time since I have practiced law but there is a good chance that you are at legal risk for publishing that one.

Not saying it is fact just there is a risk. Something about infringing the subject's rights comes to mind.

This is a friendly heads up, not a brickbat.:ok:

Obviously Sunfish you have spent to much time in the big smoke.
Cessna C206 is the black man's taxi.
How did the coroner come to the conclusion that the aircraft was dangerously overloaded?

And I like this bit:

Quote:
He said (To the Coroner) the situation had been uncovered when police were called in to investigate a burglary at the company's offices in 2004 in which the cards were stolen.

You mean to tell me this was the first time the police knew of this practice! Ha ha they all knew it was going on!

Monopole, maybe that was a typo but Oombie is NOT a dry community.

Mach080 you need to edit your post and at the very least obscure the poor man's face (or just get rid of that insensitive photo altogether).


Remember that lasting social change only ever comes from the inside. Yes outsiders can help and encourage but should never dictate. Tragically (and yes I do know the true meaning of tragedy) the people of Oombie have decided that alcohol will be allowed in their community and have given the businesses serving their community rules by which they must operate governing the days, type and quantity of alcohol permitted. I personally believe that they permit way too much... but as I wasn't a resident they didn't let me vote.


FRQ CB

The Facts-sunfish
 

I was working for Wyndham aviation at the time of said. I'll keep this short:

FACTS-
*Wyndham Aviation closed its doors a year ago. The owner Retired and the AOC sold.
*Ombie is not a dry community!
*A/C DID NOT FLY OVERLOADED!!!!
*Holding of keycards is a common practise in the town of Wyndham and Kunners. I believe it may also be legal if handled and done correctly.I recall a certain department who gave us advise on the holding of keycards.
*Wyndham aviation worked closely with the police and local Grog stores and alcohol was restricted to certain times and days.
* Yes there are and we're massive drug and alcohol problems in these towns and communities ( not the fault of Wyndham Aviation as you seem to suggest).
*The pilots working at Wyndham aviation at said time we're responsible hard working people who valued safety!
*Wyndham Aviation was a well established small charter company with over 30 years operating in the Kimberlies

SUNFISH, If you would like to chat and clarify a few things PM me. It seems you have been miss informed.

Amateurs, the now defunct company I worked for in Darwin between 1999 & 2001, kept around 250 keycards!:eek:

This practice was known about and approved by the banks concerned, the only difference was the money was never used to pay for grog, only flights.:hmm: