Qantas to make a range of improvements while CASA audits
CASA, the aviation watchdog, wants Qantas to make a range of improvements to the way it manages and delivers aircraft maintenance following a special review carried out by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.
CASA has told the airline to produce a plan to address deficiencies in meeting some of its own maintenance performance targets. While these actions are under way CASA will be conducting two additional intensive audits of Qantas.
The first will be a full maintenance audit of one aircraft of each major aircraft type in the Qantas fleet – a 747-400, 737-400 and 767-300. This will involve checking all maintenance documentation for each of these aircraft to see it has been completed, as well as physically examining the aircraft on the ground.
The second audit will focus on the effectiveness of Qantas maintenance systems in managing and implementing airworthiness directives. This will identify any weaknesses in Qantas maintenance systems in relation to managing the ongoing airworthiness of its aircraft.
CASA’s deputy chief executive officer Operations, Mick Quinn, says this comprehensive package of action is underway to address emerging problems within Qantas. “CASA has looked carefully at the Qantas maintenance systems and performance and uncovered signs of emerging problems,†Mr Quinn says.
“The review found maintenance performance within Qantas is showing some adverse trends and is now below the airline’s own benchmarks. By taking action now future safety problems will be avoided”. The wide-ranging package of actions CASA has initiated will prevent any downward trend in Qantas maintenance performance.
Qantas acknowledges the key findings and Chief Executive Mr Geoff Dixon, has said that Qantas will implement any recommendations contained in CASA’s review of the airline’s engineering and maintenance operations.
Focusing on the positives, Mr Dixon said
* There had been no significant change in Qantas’ rate of reported incidents over the past two years; and
* There was no direct link between the recent incidents involving Qantas aircraft and that the incidents were unrelated.
Mr Dixon said the findings were consistent with Qantas Engineering and Maintenance having undergone over the past 12 months more than 100 audits by external bodies, including 14 by CASA and one by the International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) IOSA program.
“The CASA audits included a two week audit only two months ago which resulted in CASA renewing Qantas’ Airline Operators Certificate (AOC) for another three years. The IOSA program, recognised as the benchmark for operational safety in the airline community, also gave Qantas a clean bill of health,” he said.
The bottom line is that whilst CASA has declared Qantas still to be a safe airline, performance of maintenance is a real issue, and immediate action is required to reverse the trend of “emerging problemsâ€.
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