It's been six months since Barrier Air chairman Peter Griffiths told his airline that competitor Sunair was grounded and that Barrier Air could pick up some of its work. The fact he did so while he was deputy chair of the Civil Aviation Board and before Sunair was told, is confirmed in a report just released, as is the fact that he did so to gain a commercial advantage, however ‘inadvertent'. Peter Griffiths resigned, but Sunair remains grounded. Sunair Aviation company director Daniel Power says Mary Sholtens' terms of reference restrained her investigation a little and that the general aviation industry would like to have seen them widened. “I have seen the report and yes, the ex-vice chairman of the CAA board had used confidential information in an incorrect way, and probably in an attempt to make some financial gain, that has been made clear by the report,” says Daniel. “The other item of interest that comes from the report is Mary Sholtens had spoken to a number of participants within the industry, mainly air transport operators like Sunair, and it has become clear that there is a high level of distrust from the industry toward the CAA.” It's now clear from the report that Peter Griffiths had no influence on Sunair's grounding, and that transparency will help in restoring the industry's relationship with the CAA, says Daniel. “But certainly that needs to be noted, that the relationship between the CAA and industry is not good. I think anyone would agree that to be an effective regulator, they need to be able to relate to the industry well. “So I'm accepting of the report and accepting of the fact that the ex-vice chair hasn't influenced the CAA at a grass root level, but his behaviour as a board member hasn't been particularly impressive. I do accept the Peter Griffiths affair has not influenced the CAA with the Sunair shut down. I'm accepting of that with what has come through on the report, but certainly there is work to be done with regard to building a better relationship between industry and the CAA.” He says they are close to resolving the issues raised by the CAA, and Sunair Aviation expects to resume operations shortly. “There's a lot of customers waiting for us to start, I can assure you. Our services have been missed. Our specialty is providing essential air services to remote areas, and in our absence in the last six months, no one else has taken on this work. The remote areas principally being, the far north and Poverty Bay are missing our services, that's for sure.”
I am for one Dan... Looking forward to seeing Sunair flying over my place sometime soon and to flying skies...
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Still wouldn't fly them. The reason for grounding is still very vague and obviously serious enough that it's taken considerable time to sort out (indicating major issues).
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure, but don't recall any suspension lasting this long
GA Operator as CEO/Owner & Engineer/Maintenance Controller.... of course nothing doggie happens in the SAV healing shed... yeah right.
ReplyDeletePossible Tui bill-board?
Nail on the head.
DeleteHowever it is hard for organizations to even afford to pay for these roles to be filled. With the ever increasing rules operators this size cant really exist anymore.
To Anonymous... Yes I did delete the comment. I have a policy of not dishing people on this blog.
ReplyDeleteA bit hypocritical Steve, as most of your blog’s identify people. I saw it before you removed it, and all I can say (as an x employee of Sunair) that it was entirely accurate. I could even add some similar such horror stories too, but you might delete them also, so won’t waste my time, don’t let the truth get in the way of a good story aeh mate.
ReplyDeleteYou will notice I said "I have a policy of not "DISHING" people on this blog." That extends to my moderating of comments. The purpose of this blog as is stated in the blog header is to record the current domestic airline scene and preserve a history of the airlines and I do this from drawing on information in the public domain as I am not in the airline industry. In that context people are identified. In the interest of aviation safety the appropriate place for employees to deal with safety issues with a company or its management is always with the management of the said company itself or, if this does not work, the regulatory authority at the time it happened. Even if the issue is historical, again the appropriate place for it to be dealt with the said company or regulator and not anonymously.
DeleteHang in their Steve, don't let the negativity affect your excellent work!
ReplyDeleteThere should be an enquiry as to who did what to initiate the grounding and if it assisted any other airline at that time.
ReplyDeleteKeep up the good work on the Blog.
Much appreciated