CASA review airs no change
MONTHS after Mount Isa pilot Josh Hoch was arrested for allegedly tampering with competitors’ planes, the review into the country’s aviation authority has brought no changes forward.
Hoch, 31, was arrested on January 24 and charged with 342 counts covering 14 offences after he allegedly poured contaminants in the fuel tanks of planes and flew members of Katter’s Australian Party around North Queensland without the proper licensing between 2012 and 2016.
The arrest raised serious questions about rural airport security and plunged the Civil Aviation Safety Authority ( CASA) into crisis, with police and officials probing what the authority knew or should have known about the charges levelled against Hoch.
Days after Hoch’s arrest, CASA launched an internal review into its dealings with the North Queensland pilot and Federal Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Darren Chester called for an urgent briefing on the case.
In a statement at the time of his arrest, a spokeswoman for CASA said it would look into the safety- related issues involving Hoch.
“CASA has launched an internal review to determine whether any significant safetyrelated issues involving Mr Hoch and the operations of Hoch Air were, or ought to have been, identified and acted on prior to launch of the police investigation and the arrest of Mr Hoch,” she said.
“We are currently reviewing our records to inform such safety- related action as we may need to take now, and to ensure the integrity and sufficiency of our entry control, audit and surveillance activities. Should we need to, we will look more closely at any aspect of our regulatory functions should additional attention be required.”
Three months down the track, the internal review CASA launched into its deal- ings with Hoch has yet to reveal anything and the only change it implemented was made last week to Hoch’s air operator’s certificate.
“CASA’s director of aviation safety ( DAS) cancelled the air operator’s certificate ( AOC) held by Hoch Air Pty Ltd on April 19, 2017,” Mr Chester said.
“Mr Hoch is also not permitted to fly due to his bail conditions.
“As the matter is currently before the court in relation to the criminal charges laid against Mr Hoch, no further comment can be made.
“CASA’s decision to cancel the Hoch AOC is subject to review by the Administrative Appeals Tribunal should Mr Hoch wish to pursue the matter.”
It is understood police are still investigating a number of people and agencies, and that the Austrlian Federal Police have become involved in the investigation.
Mount Isa detective SeniorSergeant Michelle Clark said detectives were busy building the massive brief of evidence for the court case against Hoch, but had not finished investigating other agencies.
“At the moment we are tied up with the court side of things, so we are trying to progress the full briefs and he will have his committal mention on August 30,” Sen- Sgt Clark said.
“Our focus is still on others associated with it ( Hoch’s case) and we will be continuing in that light.”