Pilots condemn safety report

By Heather Crosby
Updated November 8 2012 - 10:03pm, first published July 4 2006 - 12:08am

Pilots are pulling no punches in their condemnation of new research questioning agricultural aviation safety. A report into wire strike accidents, conducted by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB), found agricultural pilots didn't get enough training and were overly represented in crash statistics. The Aerial Agricultural Association of Australia has rejected the report as wrong and local member Tony Jones has spoken out about the high level of professionalism demonstrated by industry members throughout the western region. Mr Jones has operated Trangie-based company Rebel Ag for 22 years. He is a Grade 1 agricultural pilot with fixed wing and helicopter low-level rating, an aviation instructor and Civil Aviation Safety Authority approved testing officer. "I can't understand how the ATSB could get their information so wrong,'' Mr Jones said. "Australia is one of the few countries in the world that requires formal training for agricultural pilots. "In addition to a commercial licence agricultural pilots must complete 40 hours' training to gain agricultural rating. They are then supervised by an approved person for 110 hours.'' Aerial Agricultural Association chief executive officer Phil Hurst said the ATSB combined ag and non-ag aviation accidents before drawing the conclusion of a training deficiency. "The report findings are poorly worded and do not reflect the sophisticated training taking part in agricultural aviation,'' Mr Hurst said. "The ATSB research was prompted by three helicopter accidents involved with aerial survey flying during the NSW locust eradication campaign. None of the accidents were agricultural flying or spraying. "The long-term accident rate for agricultural flying continues to improve. Other countries such as Canada and New Zealand want to use our training materials because they are recognised as leading the world. "The ATSB report makes the fundamental error of confusing the lack of training for some low-level non-ag operations with the excellent training used in agricultural flying. "Ag pilots undergo extensive training and throughout their career undergo regular checks for proficiency. Most also participate in professional development training recognised through the AAAA Professional Pilots Program. "These pilots are real professionals who undertake a difficult job using sophisticated risk management strategies every day. "It is a pity that the ATSB do not recognise and encourage excellence when it is staring them in the face. "ATSB owes Australia's ag pilots an apology for its slipshod conclusions on ag training.''

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