FED: Qantas captain suspended over passengers flying jet

AAP General News (Australia)
12-12-1998
FED: Qantas captain suspended over passengers flying jet

SYDNEY, Dec 12 AAP - A Qantas captain has reportedly been suspended after allegations that
he let three passengers take the controls of his jets during international flights.

Sydneys Daily Telegraph newspaper said today it had learned that the Civil Aviation Safety
Authority and the Bureau of Air Safety Investigation had launched an inquiry into the matter.

It said both authorities had statements from two Sydney men who said they were allowed to
fly a Qantas 767 and 747 during separate flights.

One of the men, who was a part-time officer in the RAAF air cadets at the time, said in his
statement that he and another RAAF air cadet officer were allowed to fly a jet, which was
almost full with passengers, for twenty minutes each.

The Telegraph said he claimed that at one point his friend, who had since died, banked the
plane so sharply it caused cabin crew to contact the flight deck to see if there was a
problem.

It said both men were qualified pilots but were only rated to fly General Aviation aircraft
up to 10 seats.

The incident took place in mid-1990 on a regular scheduled commercial flight from Sydney to
Manila.

The second allegation being investigated took place on a flight from Sydney to New Zealand
in September 1996, the paper said.

It said Qantas last night confirmed that it had stood down the pilot pending an internal
investigation, and he had been suspended on full pay.

AAP brw/ao

KEYWORD: PILOT

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