Drought and flooding rains

The mixed backdrop to decisions and examinations

The recent decision by the High Court to allow State occupational safety laws to apply to an aviation accident establishes a precedent with unknown practical effects. The ramifications will no doubt be discussed in aviation and legal circles for many months to come. This is a seminal judgement that could ripple through the entire industry. Once the judgement has been analysed in detail this column hopes to provide a more informed opinion.

The AHIA has established a piston engine committee to examine, forensically, why so many relatively new engines are experiencing serious valve and cylinder malfunctions. There have been many views aired already but the committee, chaired by the AHIA President and assisted by the ATSB, is determined to find the reasons and solutions as soon as practicable. The obvious safety and economic issues must be mitigated given the extra costs and risks currently being borne by many operators of piston-engined helicopters.