If you think things are a little quite out at Archerfield recently spare a thought for the operators and pilots at an airport in Kiwi Land last week

The only air traffic controller on duty at Auckland - New Zealand's busiest airport - took a half-hour rest break as approaching air traffic were forced into a holding pattern and departures abandoned

Three days after 10 Boeing 767 aircraft were grounded by CASA for non-compliance of maintenance four Ansett staff have been stood down from their duties with an internal inquiry under way to resolve any further maintenance problems¹

CASA Staff meanwhile are working overtime during the Easter break to carry out what must be by now a well overdue maintenance audit of the B767 aircraft log books

Champion of the Private Pilot, Boyd Munro along with respected aviation research officer Jim Dawson and more than 1000 potential members, have formed an aviation based political lobby group to keep an eye on CASA and the changing of Government Regulations

For those individual Pilots and Aircraft Owners who would like representation on the political scene, apply to join Air Safety Australia or click HERE to go direct to the web page for an Application Form

Ansett chief executive Gary Toomey claims the airline is being unfairly singled out by CASA over safety and maintenance breaches

"The whole culture in the Australian aviation industry, which we subscribe to, is one of no blame, where you are actually rewarded, or you encourage people to raise issues of safety so we all have a safer environment. That doesn't seem to be the rule that's being applied to us today" ¹

Senior executives are in the firing line as a dogfight erupts in the air waves between the corporate high-rise battle station board rooms of Ansett and CASA

CASA Chief No Fault Toller incorrect circuit entry to non-tower aerodrome

Part 12 Division 2 Rule 166(d) of the Regulations state that all turns to the left when approaching for a landing - Reference page 351 of 636 - PDF format

From the USA WRIGHT- PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE Public Affairs

In late April, a UAV is scheduled to cross the Pacific Ocean for the first time, flying 7,500 miles and 22-plus hours un-refueled and nonstop to RAAF Edinburgh near Adelaide. While there, it will participate in a six-week, international joint-forces operation called "Tandem Thrust," a series of maritime and littoral (land-sea) exercises to demonstrate its military utility in concert with other airborne, land-based, and ocean-going forces