Fed: Smith tells controllers they may be liable for crashes

AAP General News (Australia)
08-04-2000
Fed: Smith tells controllers they may be liable for crashes

SYDNEY, Aug 4 AAP - Dick Smith, a former chairman of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority,
has reportedly written to air-traffic controllers warning they could be held legally responsible
for jeopardising aircraft safety.

The move by the outspoken businessman who no longer has a role in CASA has angered
the union that represents controllers, The Australian reports today.

The report says Civil Air yesterday condemned Mr Smith's action and issued a legal
opinion contradicting his claim. It said Mr Smith was causing unnecessary worry to controllers,
already under stress because of changes at Airservices Australia.

"It's yet another example of an individual who has no role apart from his over-zealousness
in many well-known areas to pursue his own agenda," Civil Air executive secretary Peter
McGuane told the newspaper.

He said Mr Smith originally approached the union to distribute his letter to members.

Mr Smith ended up faxing it to air-traffic control centres after officials refused his
request.

The newspaper says that in the letter, Mr Smith said air-safety investigators have
received reports that air-traffic controllers trying to monitor several frequencies at
once are using a "quiet" button to mute transmissions to aircraft.

"It is commonsense that effectively switching off transmissions from aircraft during
periods of higher workload may jeopardise safety and air-traffic controllers could be
held responsible," the letter says.

AAP as/rs

KEYWORD: SMITH

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