CASA punishing Ansett for honesty, says Toomey

AAP General News (Australia)
04-15-2001
CASA punishing Ansett for honesty, says Toomey

Ansett's New Zealand-based chief executive says Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority
is punishing Ansett for being honest about its problems.

Ansett chief executive GARY TOOMEY has flown into Melbourne tonight from New Zealand,
saying he will urgently seek a meeting with CASA director of aviation, MICK TOLLER.

Ansett's entire fleet of 10 Boeing 767s remains grounded, with Australian airports
bracing for continuing chaos tomorrow as 37,000 Ansett passengers fly home from Easter
holidays.

Mr TOOMEY says he and the rest of Ansett's new management are now carrying out a program
of cleaning up the airline's operation.

He says the previous system of operation was inherited, under a program approved by
Mr TOLLER and CASA.

Mr TOOMEY says the structure the airline is now putting in place was also approved
by Mr TOLLER and CASA.

He says it appears Ansett is being punished for identifying problems, bringing them
to CASA's attention and fixing them.

Mr TOOMEY says the regulator is giving very mixed messages.

Mr TOLLER earlier today criticised the airline's new management team, saying increased
capital investment in Ansett was necessary.





CASA has given Ansett three weeks from April 12 to show why it should not lose its
licence due to safety and maintenance concerns.

AAP RTV/imc/jtb

KEYWORD: ANSETT TOOMEY (MELBOURNE)

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