22.
The important discussion this inquiry has raised - and which the report addresses in its recommendations - is the extent to which the relevant Australian air safety regulatory bodies, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority and the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (a body which incorporates the previous Bureau of Air Safety Investigation) have responded to information that has been made available to them regarding the problems with the BAe 146.
23.
In this regard, recommendations made in a BASI Incident Report in relation to a 1997 incident involving air quality problems on the BAe 146 were not accepted -and accordingly not acted upon - by CASA. This is a decision with which the Committee disagrees.
24.
There have been recorded incidents, in Australia and elsewhere, involving the BAe 146 during which air quality on the aircraft has deteriorated during a flight to the extent that aircrew and cabin crew experienced effects such as dizziness, nausea and disorientation.
25.
As the Committee notes in its report, the BAe 146 aircraft has been operating in many countries for some 15 years and has, according to available records, been involved in 5 accidents in which lives were lost. None of these accidents have been found to result from cabin air quality problems. The findings, with respect to one accident, are yet to be finalised and published.
The BAe 146 - Issues Which Now Require Action
26.
In formulating its recommendations to the Senate in this inquiry, the Committee is acutely aware that, if the problems encountered with the BAe 146 are to be properly addressed, that there be a sound basis for doing so.
27.
Accordingly, the Committee's recommendations are made with the aim of ensuring that appropriate assessments are made of the BAe 146 and other passenger aircraft to ensure that proper standards of air quality are made mandatory for Australian aircraft bearing in mind Australian operational conditions.
28.
These recommendations are particularly addressed to CASA as the Australian air safety agency and the administrator of aircraft operating regulations and standards.
29.
In addition, the Committee recommends that the Commonwealth initiate a number of responses to ensure that occupational health issues raised by this inquiry are addressed.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Recommendation 1
(a)
The Committee recommends that CASA should reassess matters recommended for further action by the BASI/ATSB incident report (No. 199702276) concerning the incident on 10 July 1997 involving Captain Kolver.
(b)
The Committee also recommends that CASA reassess its requirements for monitoring the operations and cabin and cockpit air quality of the BAe 146 aircraft operating in Australia and, where necessary, introduce regulations under the Civil Aviation Act 1988 specifying:
.
a specific national standard for checking and monitoring the engine seals and air quality in all passenger commercial jet aircraft;
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