statement by airlink 15 december 2009 - 08:30
STATEMENT BY AIRLINK CEO & MANAGING DIRECTOR IN RESPONSE TO ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE MINISTER OF TRANSPORT & COMMISSIONER OF CIVIL AVIATION
15 December 2009 – 08:30
JOHANNESBURG – Airlink welcomes the vote of confidence by the Minister of Transport and SA Civil Aviation Authority (SA CAA) expressed in their confirmation of Airlink’s status as a safe airline.
While we are relieved, once again, I want to apologise to our customers and all South Africans for the anxiety or distress created by the two accidents and incidents involving our planes. The safety and well-being of our passengers, staff and aircraft are – and always have been – our number one priority.
The Minister’s announcement follows the SA CAA’s audit of Airlink’s processes and procedures. This was prompted by the 24 September accident near Durban and the 18 November runway incident at Port Elizabeth. It was given more urgency with last week’s aquaplaning accident at George. The SA CAA is still investigating the causes of these events.
The SA CAA’s audit raised concerns relating to administrative procedures and management structures at Airlink’s Technical facility. Over the weekend a comprehensive assessment of each finding was conducted by Airlink’s executive and technical management team. Corrective actions and procedures were identified. Airlink then immediately begun implementing these measures and yesterday morning reported back to the SA CAA on its progress and actions taken to address their concerns.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the SA CAA indicated its satisfaction with Airlink’s response.
We are also encouraged by preliminary feedback from the SA CAA that, to date, its investigations have found no evidence of deficient maintenance in either of the accidents or incident. We want to continually improve and enhance our operating standards and will continue to review our procedures and processes in this regard.
We have already enhanced its aircraft Operating Procedures, Training and its Pilot Selection process.
In further support of our ongoing quest for safety excellence, the independent review of Airlink’s flight safety processes and procedures by Capt Scully Levin has also begun. Capt Levin will present his recommendations in due course. His brief is to identify improvements that could be made.
We will be keeping the travelling public and the SA CAA abreast of all future developments.
Rodger Foster
CEO & Managing Director
Airlink