Preliminary Report on Air Taxi Crash Expected by End of this Month

August 31, 2024 4:26 am | Posted in Business News | Share now TwitterFacebook

By Doddy Morris.

The Acting Director of the Civil Aviation Authority of Vanuatu (CAAV), Mr. Wilfred Makaba, has confirmed that the preliminary report on the Air Taxi crash is expected by the end of this month.

“We anticipate receiving the preliminary report soon, which will outline the probable cause of the crash. This will be critical for us to address the underlying issues,” Makaba told the Daily Post this week.

The Aviation Operation Certificate (AOC) for Air Taxi has been suspended following the fatal crash in the Belleview area. This suspension is part of an ongoing investigation led by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB), which is currently analysing data collected from the crash site.

Upon receipt of the preliminary report, the CAAV will conduct a thorough review and share the findings with the public through various media outlets. This transparency aims to inform the public about what went wrong and the steps being taken to prevent future incidents.

Makaba mentioned the CAAV is committed to working closely with Air Taxi to address any root causes identified in the report.

“If the preliminary findings point to issues with the captain’s performance, we will ensure that Air Taxi’s training systems are rigorously evaluated and improved. Similarly, if maintenance is found to be a contributing factor, we will take the necessary measures to rectify the situation,” he explained.

While the specific cause of the crash remains unknown until the report is released, the CAAV remains hopeful about Air Taxi’s future. Given the high domestic demand for the service, the authority is keen to retain it.

Discussions with the owner of Air Taxi are already underway, and the CAAV is committed to collaborating with the airline to resolve any identified issues and restore public confidence in the service.

The CAAV’s proactive approach to addressing the causes of the crash and ensuring the safety of air travel underscores its dedication to aviation safety and reliability in Vanuatu.

Regarding the resumption of domestic flights by Air Vanuatu’s Twin Otter and ATR aircraft, Mr. Makaba said the primary role of the Civil Aviation Authority is to support government policy, which aims to ensure that service delivery reaches people’s doorsteps while prioritising their safety.

“When the government directed that Twin Otter services should resume, we undertook due diligence to ensure compliance with our regulations. This included extensive training for captains who had been grounded for an extended period. The captains must submit evidence of their training for our review and approval to confirm it meets the required standards,” he said.

“In addition to captain training, we also conducted checks and training on the aircraft itself to ensure compliance with maintenance regulations. The engineers at Air Vanuatu have performed admirably, and our inspections have confirmed that the aircraft meet safety standards, allowing them to operate in recent weeks.

“This week marks the resumption of ATR-72 flights, initially operating to Tanna and Santo every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Full service, including the two Twin Otters servicing the outer islands as before, will commence next week.”

The Acting Director stressed that their commitment to safety does not end with the resumption of services. The CAAV will continue regular surveillance to ensure that all operations adhere to safety standards.

“We will work closely with Air Vanuatu to maintain these standards and ensure ongoing safety in their operations,” he added.

Mr. Makaba concluded by saying that if someone lives close to an airport and notices that the bush has overgrown, animals are present on the runway, or muddy water is accumulating, they should feel responsible for repairing and maintaining the airport, as planes will rely on it for service.

“There is no need to depend on the government at all times. The CAAV has full authority under the Director’s powers to close an airport if safety is compromised,” he said.