media release 12 - accident airlink flight update #11 - 02/10/09
Accident involving Airlink flight SA8911 at Durban - UPDATE # 11
02 October 2009, 17h30
Airlink acknowledges the status report released by the Commissioner of Civil Aviation and thanks the SACAA for its swift analysis of the Cockpit Voice and Digital Flight Data recorders and for its preliminary observations. Airlink continues to render support to the SACAA with its ongoing investigation into last week’s accident at Durban.
Training people how to react to situations is a flight safety priority. Our training systems are designed to equip pilots with standard procedures to be implemented under various situations and scenarios. Our training and procedural systems have worked well over the past 17 years. But in the interest of enhancing safety and preventing a similar occurrence, we have begun revisiting our human factors and other training programmes for pilots to see if there are any things we could do differently.
We take training of crews very seriously and we employ professional, licenced and well-trained pilots.
Our recruitment and training processes are approved by the SACAA and are also accredited by the International Air Transport Association Operational Safety Audit (IOSA), which is an international benchmark of safety.
In addition, all Airlink candidates for captaincy are subjected to a leadership skills evaluation. This comprises two separate tests that cover a raft of factors, including Emotional Quotient assessment and performance under stress evaluation. These evaluations and tests are conducted by independent and impartial psychologists.
Airlink’s standard operating procedures are also approved by the SACAA and accredited by IOSA. They also comply with and exceed the manufacturers’ minimum standards.
Our fleet of Jetstream 41s have delivered safe and reliable service, logging over 400,000 flight hours in approximately as many flights since we first took them into service in 1995.
Medical condition of the crew and injured civilian at midday today:
Airlink is providing medical and welfare care to the crew and municipal worker who were injured in last week’s accident.
1. Capt Allister Freeman remains sedated, but the good news is that the infection in his foot has responded to treatment. He does however still have a chest infection which is associated with his being on a ventilator. It was not necessary for him to return to theatre today.
2. First Officer Sonja Bierman is being treated at the high care facility in Johannesburg.
3. Flight Attendant Rudelle Oosthuysen was successfully moved to the hospital’s Orthopedic ward. The stitches in her eyebrow have been removed.
4. Mr Abraham Mthethwa, is comfortable and recovering well.
Airlink representatives will be in Durban during the weekend to provide support to the family members.
Decontamination, repairs and restoration to the crash site:
Airlink hired local contractors to decontaminate and repair the accident site.
Builders completed repairs to the damaged school wall yesterday.
The portion of the school sports field affected by the accident has been decontaminated and restored. Contaminated earth and grass has been removed. Fresh soil has been brought in and new grass and seeds have been planted.
Issued by Airlink
Media contact:
Karin Murray, Airlink
Tel: 011 961 1749
karinmurray@flyairlink.com