Fed: Aviation safety body to press for mandatory inspections

AAP General News (Australia)
04-11-2001
Fed: Aviation safety body to press for mandatory inspections

CANBERRA, April 11 AAP - The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) will press aircraft
maker Boeing and United States authorities to examine whether aircraft service advice
on safety updates should be mandatory.

CASA spokesman Peter Gibson said the move would follow the grounding of three Ansett
Boeing 767 aircraft found to have cracks in engine pylon mounts this week.

Mr Gibson said Boeing actually advised Ansett of the potential problem 14 months ago
but the company only acted recently.

He said CASA was not sure exactly what happened in the interim.

"It has to be remembered very clearly that these were recommendations for inspection
from Boeing," he said on ABC radio.

"They were never at any stage made mandatory. It is the concern that CASA has with
Boeing and we will be raising that issue with them.

"It wasn't something that Ansett was required to act upon at any time or within a set time frame.

"CASA has a view that we will be putting strongly to Boeing and the American Federal
Aviation Administration that they need to think more carefully about these service bulletins
when they are issued and whether they should be made mandatory."

Mr Gibson said the issue involved old aircraft and the inspections were intended to
maintain the aircraft at a high safety level.

He said it was important for anyone operating 767-200 aircraft or any other ageing
aircraft to follow instructions from the manufacturer carefully to avoid potential problems.

"We know the original documentation was issued by Boeing early in 2000. We know obviously
that Ansett acted upon the documentation just recently," he said.

"There is some talk of other reminders in other documents issued by Boeing in the meantime.

We are not yet clear exactly what that process was during that period.

"We also have reports that Ansett sought extensions from Boeing on these inspections.

We need to clarify all that with Ansett and Boeing to get a true picture of what happened."

Boeing in the US confirmed it issued the alert in March 2000 requesting airlines check
the engine mounts of all 767s.

Company spokeswoman Debbie Heathers said Boeing asked 767 operators to conduct inspections
within 180 days.

"We also went further and said if you find something, you need to fix it. But if you
don't find anything you need to continue inspecting this area in the aircraft every 18
months throughout the life of the airplane," she said on ABC radio.

"The preference is that it be carried out within 180 days.

"Boeing doesn't have the authority to make airlines conduct those checks. However,
we do have the FAA (Federal Aviation Authority) behind us. If the FAA thinks it is important
enough, they can put it out as an air worthiness directive.

"They have the power only in the US to make sure those are carried out. However, most
aviation authorities around the world do follow suit."

AAP mb/gmw

KEYWORD: ANSETT CASA (CARRIED EARLIER)

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