CASA Media Release - Wednesday, 19 June 2002
Public supports better air charter safety
Australians overwhelmingly support an increase in safety standards for charter aircraft flights, according to a new national survey.
The survey found 92 per cent of people agree with lifting the safety of charter aircraft flights - even if better safety means slightly higher prices.
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority commissioned pollsters Roy Morgan Research to test public views on a range of important air safety issues.
A total of 3033 Australians in regional areas and capital cities in all states and territories were asked their opinions of air safety, the performance of CASA, the level of safety oversight of airlines and proposed safety improvements.
In relation to charter flights, people questioned were told that currently these aircraft operate to lower standards than equivalent scheduled airline flights.
Charter aircraft provide vital on-demand air services across regional and rural Australia.
CASA is proposing new safety rules that will mean all commercial light aircraft, operating either charter or scheduled flights, will meet the same standards. The survey said this is likely to mean charter flights will become more expensive.
Across the nation, 92 per cent agreed with CASA’s proposal to increase charter standards.
For those people who actually fly or intend to fly on charter aircraft the support is still overwhelming - at 89 per cent.
There was almost no difference in support for the safety improvements between capital city residents or those people living in regional and rural areas.
CASA is currently asking the aviation industry for comment on the details of the proposal to lift charter aircraft standards.
The survey found 75 per cent of Australians are highly confident about the safety of major airline flights, with 62 per cent confident about the safety of regional airline flights.
A copy of the survey can be downloaded from the CASA website at http://www.casa.gov.au/media/download/publicsurvey.pdf (1.93Mb Adobe Acrobat file)
Media contact
Peter Gibson
Ph: 02 6217 1015
mobile 0419 296 446
Ref: MR0224