CASA analizează spațiul aerian Gold Coast după prăbușirea fatală a elicopterului Sea World

“While there’s no indication at this stage that airspace design played a part in this devastating accident, we want to make sure we’ve given all pilots and airspace users the opportunity to provide their views on airspace arrangements,” said CASA’s Branch Manager Air Navigation, Airspace and Aerodromes, Adrian Slootjes.

“The first stage of this work involves collecting data to inform a formal airspace review. We’ve had people on the ground last week observing operations and talking to operators. This will be used alongside information we receive through our broader consultation activities.”

CASA’s review is separate to an ongoing ATSB investigation into the crash, expected to finish in the second half of next year, but the authority will cooperate with the ATSB as part of its work.

“Should any new or additional information become available through that investigation we will take immediate action and consider it alongside our own work,” said Slootjes.

În incident, două Sea World Eurocopter EC130 se ciocnesc în aer pe Main Beach – minutes away from Surfers Paradise – on 2 January.

Pilotul și trei pasageri de la bordul elicopterului care decola au murit, în timp ce alți trei au fost grav răniți. Al doilea elicopter, care se apropia de aterizare, a aterizat în mod miraculos, toți cei șase de la bord supraviețuind.

The pilot of the helicopter that survived the crash le-a spus anchetatorilor he did not see the other aircraft taking off. A preliminary report compiled by the ATSB also details how he “did not recall” hearing a radio call from the second helicopter outlining that he was due to take off.

„Acest lucru nu înseamnă neapărat că nu a fost efectuat un apel de taxi, iar ancheta ATSB va întreprinde o analiză detaliată a naturii apelurilor radio efectuate”, a spus comisarul șef al organizației, Angus Mitchell.

Operator Sea World Helicopters resumed the Gold Coast joy flights in April, having been cleared by CASA to resume operations after passing safety assessments.