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Life-saving heart transplant prevented due to ‘air safety technicality’

Article image for Life-saving heart transplant prevented due to ‘air safety technicality’

A patient in need of a heart transplant missed out on the operation last month when the Civil Aviation Safety Authority grounded pilots over a technicality.

Seven pilots from FalconAir were grounded after CASA found the company’s check pilot ran a competency flight in the wrong aircraft.

On December 16, the urgent transportation of a heart from Auckland to Sydney was prevented due to the grounding.

The patient who would have benefitted from the heart is still on the waiting list for the life-saving transplant.

Dick Smith, former Chairman of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, tells Chris Smith CASA is a “dysfunctional organisation”.

“CASA has looked around the world and found the most complex way of doing everything.

Mr Smith says Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce can make much-needed changes as he takes on the transport portfolio.

“He could be very good and he’s got to make sure the organisation reflects what’s just common sense.”

Click PLAY below for the full interview

Chris Smith
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