October 14
TV's 'A Current Affair' ran a report on Dick Smith's action to get Airservices to stay with his NAS airspace model and problems surrounding OZ passenger jets "flying blind" in non-controlled airspace

The report also makes mention of the two air traffic controllers who failed to alert the pilot of the recent Bennalla accident that he was off course even though the controller's console alarm in the Melbourne radar centre had activated

Benalla report click HERE

October 15
Light aircraft security is of concern to the Government, so much so that a new Law has been initiated that will apply to all light aircraft
The "Aviation Transport Security Act 2004" comes into effect in March 2005 wherein aircraft will need to visibly secure to the public eye

The Government considers aircraft door locks to be "inadequate" with measures suggested to secure the machine including the fitting of a "lockable control wheel lock" and "securing with a padlock and chain" to a tie down point

A copy of the undated letter sent to all aircraft owners advising of the new Law is HERE



The News Desk considers the requirement will be subject to anomaly during "compliance checks" by the regulators

October 15
A B747 Freighter crashed on take-off at Halifax Airport in Canada killing all 7 crew on board



Reports have the tail section breaking off near the runway end with the main section of the aircraft impacting a nearby rock quarry and bursting into flames



The airport was shut down after the accident and reopened the following day

October 17
Ferry pilot Ray Clamback arrived back in OZ after his rescue from the Pacific Ocean with high praise for the US organised rescue which he says "undoubtedly saved my life"

Ray was located at 2:00am by the container ship P&O Nedlloyd Los Angeles after the Coast Guard aircraft, continually flying overhead, dropped flares to pin-point the small life-raft Ray occupied

After the rescue Ray thanked all concerned for a high-class professional rescue

"Compliments to the Captain and crew of container ship P&O Nedlloyd Los Angeles" and to the US Coast Guard C-130 for remaining overhead for over 9 hours to assist with the rescue

October 19
An amateur-built aircraft crashed near St George in SW QLD after the pilot reported that he had a medical problem and was seen by an emergency organised aircraft pilot to be "lapsing in and out of consciousness"

The 49yo Bundaberg pilot was enroute to St George when he reported that he was unwell

The aircraft was a German design 2 seat home-built with the pilot reported as a diabetic

October 19
In France where strict anti-terrorism measures are in effect at airports all over the country, a youth in a "visible state of drunkenness" broke into an airport terminal in Coulommiers east of Paris at about 2am and took a single-engine aircraft for a joyride

He was eventually detained by airport personnel after flying around at night for around 30 minutes and then forced to land - he also escaped for a brief period before recapture