A QANTAS captain and first officer are facing charges of reckless operation of a Boeing 737 with 77 people on board after a late night takeoff.
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority alleges the pilots took off from Launceston, Tasmania, for Melbourne about 11pm on October 23, 2001, without activating the airport runway, taxiway and obstacle lights.
The lights can be activated from within the aircraft cabin and provide a vital reference point if the aircraft hits trouble and has to turn back.
Charges laid by the commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions under the Civil Aviation Act are due for a first mention today in the Launceston Court of Petty Sessions.
The two sections relate to reckless operations that could endanger the life, property or person of another individual.
The fact that CASA opted for the unusual course of prosecuting a major airline, rather than issuing an infringement notice or taking other regulatory action, indicates the seriousness with which it views the alleged incident.
CASA’s enforcement manual says officers should refer to the commonwealth DPP for prosecution any matters that are deliberate and serious or that demonstrate a reckless disregard of the safety rules; are part of a pattern of similar contraventions; that involve knowing or reckless breaches of the act; or that seriously endanger the safety of people other than those committing the offence.
The act provides for a variety of penalties ranging from licence suspension to fines and demerit points.
A Qantas spokeswoman said it was inappropriate for the airline to comment. However, it is understood the airline is defending the matter.
By: MINIDOH - 15th June 2004 at 12:46
Here at Dunkeswell in the UK we can activate the runway lights from inside the aircraft. Press the R/T button quickly four times to turn them on and do it again to turn them off!
By: steve rowell - 15th June 2004 at 07:03
Launceston is not the end of the world, but you can see it from there
I think the tower at Launceston works office hours
By: Whiskey Delta - 15th June 2004 at 05:11
I often light up the airport of my old home field as I fly over. Nothing like burning a little of their $$. 🙂
It’s a great system that allows great flexibility for operations at smaller airports or those that run part-time ATC towers. It takes a little getting use to as you have to remember to re-activate the lights before you land as a precaution. They only remain on for a few minutes so during repeated trips around the pattern or competing a long approach it’s common to have the light system time out before landing. After having the lights go dark during a landing or 2 you learn a valuable lesson. 🙂
By: skycruiser - 15th June 2004 at 04:22
But surely the tower controller would have know the plane was there, calling for clearance taxi etc, any morse code clickity messages or whatever would not be neccessary?
Quite simple…the tower might have been closed. This is the reason we have pilot activated lights.
In the USA you can fly where you want and at what ever time you want…It’s excellent. No worries about trying to get back before the airfield closes.
By: Mark L - 14th June 2004 at 16:57
But surely the tower controller would have know the plane was there, calling for clearance taxi etc, any morse code clickity messages or whatever would not be neccessary?
By: RIPConcorde - 14th June 2004 at 16:36
In many parts of the world like USA and Aus the pilot can activate the runway lights by clicking the R/T button a certain number of times. You also can control the light intensity.
When I used to fly in the USA we would fly over a known airfield, dial up the tower freq and click away….and suddenly the whole airfield was light up. It was quite a cool sight. 😀
You learn something new everyday! 🙂
By: Duesseldwarf - 14th June 2004 at 13:31
Well, bugger me! 🙂
By: skycruiser - 14th June 2004 at 12:20
Thats new, since when have pilots been able to switch on runway lights?
In many parts of the world like USA and Aus the pilot can activate the runway lights by clicking the R/T button a certain number of times. You also can control the light intensity.
When I used to fly in the USA we would fly over a known airfield, dial up the tower freq and click away….and suddenly the whole airfield was light up. It was quite a cool sight. 😀
By: Mark L - 14th June 2004 at 12:00
I think perhaps they mean the pilot did not switch on his Landing, Taxi, or Anti Collision lights. Any other theory makes no sense! Just a case of a confused journalist!
By: T5 - 14th June 2004 at 10:58
Perhaps like us, they didn’t realise it could be done either! 😀
By: Bmused55 - 14th June 2004 at 09:25
Thats new, since when have pilots been able to switch on runway lights?
I’d like to ask the same question.
Its a jet aircraft… a QF 737 so that implies an established airport with the usualy tower and ATC. Why the heck would a pilot need to turn the lights on??
That would be akin to asking passengers to clean the plane up themselves before boarding.
By: Mark L - 14th June 2004 at 08:42
Thats new, since when have pilots been able to switch on runway lights?
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June 14, 2004 at 6:31 am