CASA Responds to Jetstar Txting Incident Criticism
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CASA Responds to Jetstar Txting Incident Criticism
CASA responds to Jetstar txting incident criticism
May 8, 2012 – 3:22 pm, by Ben Sandilands
CASA has responded to this morning’s post criticising its actions over persistent Jetstar incidents, and the Singapore Airport txting incident in particular.
However without referencing Tiger at all, the conduct of the Jetstar flight involving the txting incident clearly demonstrates that whatever safety systems the airline and regulator may claim were in place, they all failed on that occasion, and they put the lives of a large number of people at serious risk.
This incident was so serious that CASA ought to have acted as expeditiously in the interests of public safety against Jetstar as it did against Tiger Airways.
It is beyond the boundaries of credibility for CASA not to have acted against Jetstar in relation to incidents in which two pilots thought they were at 800 feet in a modern airliner when the cabin was full of visual and audible warning that they much lower, in an incorrectly configured jet rapidly dropping toward the runway, when they had not effectively communicated with each other for a period of several minutes.
It is beyond credibility that CASA would tolerate an operational situation where these two pilots, who had nearly flown an Australian airliner into the ground because they couldn’t professionally relate to each other, were then cleared by Jetstar to fly the same airliner back to Darwin from Singapore exposing those passengers to the risks of the unsafe conduct that had occurred on the Darwin to Singapore flight.
It is beyond credibility that these and other such serious matters should be somehow buried away from public sight while Jetstar’s major competitor, Tiger, is subject to intense public criticism by the safety enforcer, and compelled to conform with its rules and standards under a glare of publicity that cost it tens of millions of dollars.
The safety enforcer was right about Tiger. It needs to be seen to be right in its actions against Jetstar.
May 8, 2012 – 3:22 pm, by Ben Sandilands
CASA has responded to this morning’s post criticising its actions over persistent Jetstar incidents, and the Singapore Airport txting incident in particular.
CASA statement
Jetstar responded appropriately to the May 2010 incident by undertaking their own investigation, identifying areas for improvement and developing 16 action items. They learnt lessons.
This is what CASA expects from an airline – a proactive response and a plan of action to incidents and unplanned events.
CASA has carefully reviewed the Jetstar investigation and the actions taken. We believe they were an appropriate response. CASA continues to monitor these issues to make sure the improvements have been put in place and are effective.
CASA takes action against an airline when responses to incidents or events are not appropriate – especially when there is evidence an airline’s safety systems are not working effectively.
Comparing Jetstar to Tiger is like apples and oranges – Tiger did not respond proactively to issues identified over a period of time and the safety systems were not effective.
Jetstar’s safety is continually monitored and reviewed by CASA – just as we do for all airlines. If there are any signs of systemic or other problems CASA will take the appropriate action. We are a proactive regulator.
Comment: CASA was correct in grounding Tiger Airways for the reasons alluded to in its statement.Jetstar responded appropriately to the May 2010 incident by undertaking their own investigation, identifying areas for improvement and developing 16 action items. They learnt lessons.
This is what CASA expects from an airline – a proactive response and a plan of action to incidents and unplanned events.
CASA has carefully reviewed the Jetstar investigation and the actions taken. We believe they were an appropriate response. CASA continues to monitor these issues to make sure the improvements have been put in place and are effective.
CASA takes action against an airline when responses to incidents or events are not appropriate – especially when there is evidence an airline’s safety systems are not working effectively.
Comparing Jetstar to Tiger is like apples and oranges – Tiger did not respond proactively to issues identified over a period of time and the safety systems were not effective.
Jetstar’s safety is continually monitored and reviewed by CASA – just as we do for all airlines. If there are any signs of systemic or other problems CASA will take the appropriate action. We are a proactive regulator.
However without referencing Tiger at all, the conduct of the Jetstar flight involving the txting incident clearly demonstrates that whatever safety systems the airline and regulator may claim were in place, they all failed on that occasion, and they put the lives of a large number of people at serious risk.
This incident was so serious that CASA ought to have acted as expeditiously in the interests of public safety against Jetstar as it did against Tiger Airways.
It is beyond the boundaries of credibility for CASA not to have acted against Jetstar in relation to incidents in which two pilots thought they were at 800 feet in a modern airliner when the cabin was full of visual and audible warning that they much lower, in an incorrectly configured jet rapidly dropping toward the runway, when they had not effectively communicated with each other for a period of several minutes.
It is beyond credibility that CASA would tolerate an operational situation where these two pilots, who had nearly flown an Australian airliner into the ground because they couldn’t professionally relate to each other, were then cleared by Jetstar to fly the same airliner back to Darwin from Singapore exposing those passengers to the risks of the unsafe conduct that had occurred on the Darwin to Singapore flight.
It is beyond credibility that these and other such serious matters should be somehow buried away from public sight while Jetstar’s major competitor, Tiger, is subject to intense public criticism by the safety enforcer, and compelled to conform with its rules and standards under a glare of publicity that cost it tens of millions of dollars.
The safety enforcer was right about Tiger. It needs to be seen to be right in its actions against Jetstar.
