CASA suspends Aquatic Air Operator's Certificate
The Minister for Transport and Regional Development, the Hon Mark Vaile MP, has been advised this evening by the Chairman of the CASA Board, Dick Smith, that the Director of Aviation Safety, Mick Toller, has suspended the Air Operator's Certificate (AOC) issued to Aquatic Air, trading as South Pacific Seaplanes.
This follows the fatal accident earlier today involving one of the company's aircraft.
Mr Toller said that the CASA Board had been made aware of safety concerns with this operator, and the Board had on at least two occasions been advised by CASA management that appropriate enforcement action had been taken to address these concerns.
"I have also asked the new Assistant Director Aviation Safety Compliance to carry out a full investigation of the internal CASA regulatory processes in relation to this matter," Mr Toller said.
"The CASA investigation will be in addition to the accident investigation being carried out by the Bureau of Air Safety Investigation (BASI)."
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Brian Flanagan
Manager, Office of Public Relations
Phone: 02 6217 1015
Mobile 0419 296 446
26 July 1998
Ref: ME9814PR