CASA Media Release - Friday, 16 July 2004
Push to improve North Qld air safety
Better air safety in North Queensland is the focus of a series of special seminars being held in Townsville next week.
Pilots, engineers and airline managers will meet to discuss aviation safety and improve their skills.
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority is hosting the four-day air safety summit, which will attract aviation people from across the region.
Key safety issues will be in the spotlight, including new airspace rules, fatigue, pilot training, aircraft maintenance and safety management systems.
The seminars are an important initiative to maintain and improve the North Queensland’s air safety record.
CASA spokeswoman Michelle Harris says Queensland has 32 per cent of Australia’s fatal general aviation accidents.
“Over a decade Queensland recorded 63 fatal light aircraft crashes, which is the highest for any state, and this is obviously a record we need to strive to improve,” Ms Harris says.
“This means pilots, engineers and airline managers must continue to learn and improve their skills, as the key to better air safety is better performance by people.
“Next week’s seminars are an essential part of the ongoing efforts by both CASA and the aviation industry to lift air safety to even higher standards.”
Experts will help pilots and engineers to upgrade their skills and learn the latest in safety from Australia and around the world.
Seminars are targeted at private and commercial pilots, flying instructors and aircraft engineers.
A total of 10 seminars will be held over the four days, starting on Monday 19 July.
The venue for all the seminars is: Holiday Inn hotel, 334 Flinders Mall Townsville.
For more information go to: casa.gov.au/seminars/