Civil Aviation

Press, 30 December 1988, Page 16

Civil Aviation

Sir,—The reports of the skyferry accident (November 15) quote Mr Jeffries, the Minister of Civil Aviation, as giving the assurance that “the SwedaviaMcGregor recommendations will be implemented within 18 months.” Your readers should be aware that the Swedavia-McGre-gor report recommended, among other things, that flight crew

licences be non-terminating, in much the same way as vehicle driving licences, tertiary diplomas and degrees, etc. In the case of airline pilots extensive medical and flying checks are still required every six months to remain in the job. Mr Jeffries, contrary to his reported statement, plans to ignore the recommendation for non-terminating licences and, instead, to increase the relicence fee from the present $26.40 a year to $3lO a year. This charge is administrative only and results in the issue to the pilot of a small plastic card. The extensive medical and flight check still has to be completed. The Minister is ignoring sound and expensive advice simply to gather money. — Yours, etc., R. A. CROSS. November 15, 1988. [Mr Jeffries replies: "While the main thrust of the SwedaviaMcGregor report has been accepted in principle, this does not mean that every recommendation will be implemented. For example, the Air Transport Division will not become an independent authority but remain within the framework of the Ministry of Transport. The Air Transport Division is examining the implications of the operational recommendations and, where appropriate, will progressively move to implement the essence of the report. While some recommendations could undoubtedly be implemented fairly soon, others would require structural and attitudinal changes which would necessitate a much longer introductory period. I am aware there is widespread interest in the concept of a lifetime licence. The fee for the renewal of a pilot licence does not cover administrative costs alone but also the cost of the medical assessment carried out by the Air Transport Division medical staff and the cost of the flight safety magazine sent to every licence holder. If a lifetime licence were introduced it would be necessary to introduce separate fees for medical assessment and the flight safety magazine. It is likely the total cost to the licence holder would not be much different. Your readers can be assured that I am committed to the development of a flight crew licensing system that is both efficient and effective in its contribution to the safe operation of aircraft. In this regard I have no intention of ignoring the Swedavia-McGregor

recommendations. The concept of a lifetime licence is being evaluated aloig with the other recommendations and I expect a decision will le made in the new year.”]