Photo taken by a passenger shortly before the crash of a Cessna 404 in Lockhart River, Queensland, Australia.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) is citing a fatal 2020 crash in urging operators of smaller passenger aircraft to consider equipping their aircraft with a terrain awareness and warning system (TAWS) unit.
“The ATSB urges all operators conducting air transport operations to evaluate the risk of CFIT [controlled flight into terrain] in your operations and to actively seek to install TAWS in your aircraft to maximise the safety of your operations,” said ATSB Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell.
“And if a TAWS is not currently viable, but your aircraft has a GPS/navigation unit that provides a terrain awareness function, fully understand the nature and limitations of this function and develop procedures and guidance for your pilots about its operation,” Mitchell added.
Mitchell’s comments coincided with the ATSB’s …
