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CAA “Lied Over Seaview”
A Civil Aviation Authority memo leaked to a Sydney newspaper has revealed that the Authority misled the Minister for Transport, Laurie Brereton, over aspects of the Seaview Air Turbo Commander which crashed on a flight between Williamtown and Lord Howe Island last October. The memo, made public by The Sydney Morning Herald and referring to the rigging of the aircraft’s ailerons, says in part: “At November 3 94, one of our officers knew that VH-SVQ [the crashed aircraft] had not in fact been checked as required by the manufacturer. We advised the Minister differently on November 4 94. There may be Aero Commander aeroplanes in service which have been rigged by methods other than those of the manufacturer. There may, consequently … be Aero Commander aeroplanes in service which are rigged unsafely – though this is less likely”. The memo is the latest revelation in the ongoing Seaview crash saga, an incident which is subject to several enquiries including one into the relationship between the operator and the CAA. The contents of the memo has prompted Opposition transport spokesman John Sharp to call for the grounding of all Aero Commanders in Australia. It is thought by some that improperly rigged ailerons contributed to the Seaview crash by causing aileron snatch or flutter, although tests on a Turbo Commander in the USA (refer p11 May 95 AA) during which the ailerons were deliberately and badly misrigged, failed to indicate any such problem. An interesting occurrence which might have some relevance has also emerged with the unexpected recovery of a substantial part of the wreckage of another Turbo Commander which crashed into the sea off Sydney nine months before the Seaview accident. Seaview’s chief executive, Mr John Green, had previously called for the wreckage to be recovered but this had been denied on the grounds of cost and lack of accessibility. The wreckage has now been brought to the surface in a fishing trawler’s net, and examination of it might reveal some new clues.
Qantas Redevelops Sydney Domestic Terminal
Qantas has awarded a $194m contract to Civil and Civic for a three stage expansion and redevelopment of the airline’s Sydney Airport domestic terminal. The work is due to be completed by the end of 1997 and will provide the terminal with five new aircraft gates (taking the total to 15) including eight for widebodied aircraft; a new satellite lounge with seven aircraft gates; new Qantas Club and Chairman’s Lounge facilities with capacities increased from 550 to 1000 and 65 to 140, respectively; and increased passenger handling capability, up from 1520 per hour to 2320. With the announcement of this development it’s timely to note that whoever wins the lease on Sydney Airport come privatisation won’t really be getting all of it as both Qantas and Ansett have massive investments in their terminals with current contracts not expiring until 2016 at the earliest. In addition, the Qantas jet base and corporate jet/GA area east of the main terminals are also unlikely to be included in the deal.
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