2 Aussies Shut Down Singapore Airspace for 50 Minutes, 2 F-16s Scrambled to Intercept
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Well lets not get too side tracked.
What happened in court today?
I see a David Boey press release regarding the engineer who is employed by the pilot, has been released and is back in Oz.
And starting to mutter things as employees do given he is safely out of Singa.
But that does not seem to be court related.
Anyone?
What happened in court today?
I see a David Boey press release regarding the engineer who is employed by the pilot, has been released and is back in Oz.
And starting to mutter things as employees do given he is safely out of Singa.
But that does not seem to be court related.
Anyone?
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The 2 pilots face a prison term, fully deserved in my opinion.
The Australian Authorities need to raise their standards with regard to licensing issues. They lag behind the rest of the world in this area. They can keep all their cowboys flying around the Outback, but don`t let them loose on the rest of us.
The Australian Authorities need to raise their standards with regard to licensing issues. They lag behind the rest of the world in this area. They can keep all their cowboys flying around the Outback, but don`t let them loose on the rest of us.
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Click on the link below for a picture of the infamous Rhys Thomas!
http://www.straitstimes.com/Latest%2...ry_220377.html
March 25, 2008
Aussie pilot's bid to leave country rejected again
By Elena Chong
AUSTRALIAN pilot Rhys Henry Thomas has failed again to get the court's nod to leave Singapore to attend to personal matters.
His application for leave jurisdiction was made on Monday and dismissed on Tuesday by District Judge John Ng.
Thomas, 59, was charged late last month with flying a Cessna float plane into Singapore on Jan 22 without a duly issued and valid certificate of airworthiness.
Two Republic of Singapore Air Force fighter jets escorted his plane to Changi Airport, which had to close for 50 minutes amid security fears.
Thomas claimed trial after his representations were turned down by the prosecution.
A nine-day hearing is due to start on March 31.
Out on $10,000 bail, Thomas first applied to leave the country on Feb 28 to visit his 83-year-old mother in a medical centre in Australia. Judge Ng turned down his application.
He applied again on Monday, citing financial loss if he continues to remain here, besides compassionate grounds.
In rejecting the application, Judge Ng said that the parties were ready, and the trial was scheduled in less than a week.
'It would be in the interest of all parties that the case be resolved expeditiously,' he said.
'The accused clearly does not have any roots here. He does not have anything here that can be seen as a compelling reason for him to come back after returning home.'
===============================================
I can almost hear Rhys Henry Thomas saying (when he gets convicted): "Dear judge, if I go to jail I will suffer financial loss". Duh!
http://www.straitstimes.com/Latest%2...ry_220377.html
March 25, 2008
Aussie pilot's bid to leave country rejected again
By Elena Chong
AUSTRALIAN pilot Rhys Henry Thomas has failed again to get the court's nod to leave Singapore to attend to personal matters.
His application for leave jurisdiction was made on Monday and dismissed on Tuesday by District Judge John Ng.
Thomas, 59, was charged late last month with flying a Cessna float plane into Singapore on Jan 22 without a duly issued and valid certificate of airworthiness.
Two Republic of Singapore Air Force fighter jets escorted his plane to Changi Airport, which had to close for 50 minutes amid security fears.
Thomas claimed trial after his representations were turned down by the prosecution.
A nine-day hearing is due to start on March 31.
Out on $10,000 bail, Thomas first applied to leave the country on Feb 28 to visit his 83-year-old mother in a medical centre in Australia. Judge Ng turned down his application.
He applied again on Monday, citing financial loss if he continues to remain here, besides compassionate grounds.
In rejecting the application, Judge Ng said that the parties were ready, and the trial was scheduled in less than a week.
'It would be in the interest of all parties that the case be resolved expeditiously,' he said.
'The accused clearly does not have any roots here. He does not have anything here that can be seen as a compelling reason for him to come back after returning home.'
===============================================
I can almost hear Rhys Henry Thomas saying (when he gets convicted): "Dear judge, if I go to jail I will suffer financial loss". Duh!
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Isnt Rhys the Chief pilot of his operation in Oz?
CASA looked after him in his absence and changed his AOC!
(See`previous)
Are there new pilots helping to run his show in OZ?
Would have thought they needed to be checked out by him before they fly!
I heard that a change in Chiefs is on the horizon!
CASA looked after him in his absence and changed his AOC!
(See`previous)
Are there new pilots helping to run his show in OZ?
Would have thought they needed to be checked out by him before they fly!
I heard that a change in Chiefs is on the horizon!
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Pilot pleads guilty ..
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stori...338417/1/.html
SINGAPORE : The Australian pilot of a Cessna plane has pleaded guilty to entering Singapore's airspace, "without a valid certificate of airworthiness".
59-year-old Rhys Henry Thomas was test flying the plane he bought in Koh Samui, Thailand.
He entered Singapore's airspace on 22 January this year and caused two Air Force fighter jets to intercept his plane, which was eventually escorted to Changi Airport.
The incident delayed flights for about an hour, due to security fears.
In mitigation, Thomas' lawyer said his client decided to fly to Seletar Airport due to landing-gear problems, after taking off from Koh Samui for the test flight.
But the prosecution had argued that the pilot could have landed at other near-by airports.
However, the defence told the court that the pilot believed Singapore has better medical and other infrastructure. He also allegedly wanted to use up some of the five hours worth of fuel in the plane, in case his aircraft had a crash-landing.
The defence also blamed the Australian authorities for allegedly giving conflicting advice to Thomas on whether he required a certificate of airworthiness.
If found guilty, Thomas can be fined up to S$5,000 or face a jail term of a year, or both.
The pilot's lawyer also said that it was a situation of circumstances where the pilot had to make a quick and professional judgement based on many factors.
Sentencing will take place on 1 April. - CNA
SINGAPORE : The Australian pilot of a Cessna plane has pleaded guilty to entering Singapore's airspace, "without a valid certificate of airworthiness".
59-year-old Rhys Henry Thomas was test flying the plane he bought in Koh Samui, Thailand.
He entered Singapore's airspace on 22 January this year and caused two Air Force fighter jets to intercept his plane, which was eventually escorted to Changi Airport.
The incident delayed flights for about an hour, due to security fears.
In mitigation, Thomas' lawyer said his client decided to fly to Seletar Airport due to landing-gear problems, after taking off from Koh Samui for the test flight.
But the prosecution had argued that the pilot could have landed at other near-by airports.
However, the defence told the court that the pilot believed Singapore has better medical and other infrastructure. He also allegedly wanted to use up some of the five hours worth of fuel in the plane, in case his aircraft had a crash-landing.
The defence also blamed the Australian authorities for allegedly giving conflicting advice to Thomas on whether he required a certificate of airworthiness.
If found guilty, Thomas can be fined up to S$5,000 or face a jail term of a year, or both.
The pilot's lawyer also said that it was a situation of circumstances where the pilot had to make a quick and professional judgement based on many factors.
Sentencing will take place on 1 April. - CNA
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Sometimes when people get backed into (or by their own action get into) beuracratic corners they do crazy things , I heard a rumor that this 'run for the border' was an desperate attempt at resolving some expensive 'issues' arising from the sale of the aircraft , hence no flight plan
It's no justification for what happened but things can drag on for years here when both sides dig their heels in
It's no justification for what happened but things can drag on for years here when both sides dig their heels in
Last edited by aseanaero; 15th Apr 2008 at 14:11.
