Rotorcraft Report: Safety Inspection Teams "Sweep" Northern Australia

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Australian regulators in late June launched a first-ever, month-long review of the safety of helicopter and other operations in the northern part of that country.

Two teams of Civil Aviation Safety Authority inspectors, investigators and safety advisors planned to carry out safety checks on pilots and engineers (or mechanics) as well as aircraft and maintenance operations at more than 60 locations in North and Northwest Queensland, the Northern Territory and Western Australia’s Kimberly region. CASA officials said the teams also would offer safety advice and education during the "safety sweep."

"CASA regularly carries out targeted surveillance of specific areas or operations, but we have never mounted this type of exercise across such a wide region," said acting CASA CEO Shane Carmody.

He said Northern Australia "has unique aviation challenges, such as distance and physical conditions, and this means a different approach is needed to make sure safety rules are being followed and safety advice and education can be delivered."