Pel-Air pilot suspended
According to reports from Australia, the pilot of a Pel-Air Westwind air ambulance jet who ditched the aircraft in the sea after running out of fuel has had his pilot's licence suspended. Although the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) has said it is unable to confirm or deny individual cases of suspension due to the Privacy Act, it did say that it was able to suspend a pilot's license 'in the interests of safety'. CASA is still investigating Pel-Air's fuel policies, practices and training as a result of the accident, in which all crew members, the patient and her partner all survived, despite spending some time in rough sea around Norfolk Island. Dominic James, the pilot in question, has said he could not comment on the situation until the Australian Transportation Safety Board had completed its investiation. For the full background on Pel-Air's emergency landing, please see ITIJ 108,December 2009, The price of safety.
According to reports from Australia, the pilot of a Pel-Air Westwind air ambulance jet who ditched the aircraft in the sea after running out of fuel has had his pilot's licence suspended. Although the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) has said it is unable to confirm or deny individual cases of suspension due to the Privacy Act, it did say that it was able to suspend a pilot's license 'in the interests of safety'. CASA is still investigating Pel-Air's fuel policies, practices and training as a result of the accident, in which all crew members, the patient and her partner all survived, despite spending some time in rough sea around Norfolk Island. Dominic James, the pilot in question, has said he could not comment on the situation until the Australian Transportation Safety Board had completed its investiation.
For the full background on Pel-Air's emergency landing, please see ITIJ 108,December 2009, The price of safety.