FLYING HIGH
Chopper pilot cleared of drunken flight to pub for more beer
THE AIR safety watchdog has lost an extraordinary two-year battle to permanently ground a Far North chopper pilot they claim went on a drunken beer run in a helicopter after running out of booze.
Pilot Jason Pantovic has been accused by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority of drinking 12 to 15 stubbies before climbing behind the controls of the chopper with two mates and landing outside a Mount Molloy hotel 55km north-west of Cairns in late 2011.
There, it was alleged, they picked up a slab of beer which was so heavy that the overcrowded two-seat helicopter struggled to take off and landed heavily after clipping tree branches. One of the passengers was then allegedly forced to scrounge a lift from the publican to an oval where the chopper was able to take off.
CASA alleged the incident – and two others involving Mr Pantovic – breached their rules and should have led to the cancellation of Mr Pantovic’s pilot licence.
However, the Administrative Appeals Tribunal last week ruled they were not satisfied the beer run allegation was true and claimed CASA’s chief witness was unreliable as his former partner had an affair with Mr Pantovic.
This meant the witness, Allan Gibb, wanted revenge and was an “unreliable witness motivated by malice’’, the tribunal found.
The tribunal found CASA investigators did “not do a good job” and were “too quick to embrace” their informant, ignoring warning signs about the credibility of his evidence.
“I do not suggest the CASA investigators acted dishonestly or in bad faith,” the tribunal said.
THOUSANDS of Far Northern travellers are snapping up cut price airfares for flights next year.
Jetstar reports their Christmas sale has been a bonanza while Tigerair is planning a bumper Boxing Day sale on Saturday.
A Jetstar spokeswoman said more than 10,000 seats to and from Cairns were booked in the airline’s Christmas sale from December 9-22 as well as about 1000 international airfares.
“Cairns locals have been among our biggest supporters over the years, so we’re pleased to be able to thank them by offering more great value fares to get them where they want to go,” she said.
“Thousands of travellers from Far North Queensland will be exploring Australia on Jetstar flights in the new year with tickets they snapped up in our Christmas sale.
“Locals grabbed tickets to Melbourne for just $99, and an incredible $109 to Bali as well as great value fares to Sydney, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Adelaide, Perth and Darwin.
“For anyone who’s left their holiday planning to the last minute, it’s not too late to grab a bargain with almost 1000 seats available between Cairns and Brisbane among our regular fares for less than $100 in January.”
Tigerair Australia head of communications Vanessa Regan said the summer holidays were a peak travel period for the carrier.
“The week before Christmas through until the end of January is among the busiest of all travel periods for Tigerair and the airline is expecting to operate a number of full flights this week,” she said.
“As always, it is advised to plan ahead and book early with Tigerair to secure the best value travel deals.
“The airline will launch a special Boxing Day sale on December 26 and urges bargain seekers to get in quick for some fantastic travel deals.
“Cairns remains a perennially popular year-round destination for passengers travelling on Tigerair and our services continue to grow based on demand.” Ms Regan said in the 12 months to November, Tigerair’s seat capacity in and out of Cairns increased by 14.88 per cent or 51,840 seats over last year.
“During the same time period Tigerair passenger numbers have increased by 25.69 per cent,” she said.