oneperth.com.au | Perth news

STAFF REPORTER

A 29-year-old learner driver from Thornlie will face multiple charges over a car crash that killed a woman and seriously injured six other people near Perth Airport on New Year’s Day.

Police spokeswoman Naomi Smith said that about 8.50pm the man – a learner driver – drove a Holden Commodore west along Dunreath Drive and collided head-on with another Commodore as he allegedly tried to overtake a truck.

The crash killed a 40-year-old woman and serious injuries to six other occupants of the two cars.

The man has been charged with dangerous driving causing death, two counts of dangerous driving causing grievous bodily harm, three counts of dangerous driving causing bodily harm, contravening his learner’s permit, and contravening a work order.

He will appear in Perth Magistrates Court on January 31.

CHRIS THOMSON

3.50PM THURSDAY UPDATE: A fast-moving fire with flames up to 12 metres high threatened residential Cloverdale and Kewdale yesterday and closed major roads around Perth International Airport.

More than 24-hours after the blaze broke out, the Fire and Emergency Services Authority has just given the all clear for the eastern part of Cloverdale near Perth Airport.

The fire is now under control. However, the wind is picking up a lot of dust from the ground where the fire burnt and FESA has advised people on foot to avoid the area as it is still poses some risk.

Dunreath Drive is still closed between Horrie Miller Drive and Brearly Avenue.

Fifty regular firefighters attended the fire and mopping up continues. Airport firefighters and Federal police were also on the scene.

Yesterday, residents of McLarty Place and Towie Street in Cloverdale were evacuated. They have now returned home.

FIREFIGHTER INJURED

One male firefighter sustained minor burns and was taken to hospital.

Yesterday, FESA had reported flames as high as 12 metres.

The Department for Child Protection set up a fire relocation centre at Forster Park Hall – at the corner of Keane Street and Abernathy Road in Cloverdale.

Three helicopters sent to protect crews and homes have now been released from the area.

The fire was reported at 12.23pm today and 66 hectares have been burnt out.

The cause of the conflagration is unknown. FESA has asked anyone seeing suspicious behaviour to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

STAFF REPORTER

A 40-year-old woman was killed and six other people seriously injured last night when two Holden Commodores crashed head-on at the road linking Perth’s domestic and international airports.

Police spokesman Samuel Dinnison said that about 8:50pm a white Holden Commodore was travelling west on Dunreath Drive.

At the same time a gold Holden Commodore was travelling east on the same road which links the domestic and international airports.

Mr Dinnison said it appeared the driver of the white Commodore had allegedly tried to overtake a slower moving truck.

He said the two cars collided head-on in the east bound lane.

The crash occurred on a bending section of the road that had double white lines.

Seven people were seriously injured, with one – a 40-year-old woman – later dying in hospital.

Injured in the white Commodore were the woman, a six-year-old boy, a 29-year-old man, a 31-year-old man and a 32-year-old man.

Injured in the gold Commodore were a 49-year-old woman and a 53-year-old man.

Anyone with relevant information about the crash should call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

CHRIS THOMSON

Three Perth-based pilots have had their transfers to Brisbane upheld after a bid by a Qantas colleague to quash the transfers was yesterday thrown out of the Federal Court.

Sydney-based Second Officer Jason Hyde was aggrieved at being overlooked after having expressed a wish to move to the sunshine state.

Mr Hyde was employed in November 2004 as a Second Officer based in Sydney, flying B747 aircraft – a position he still maintains.

He tried to get an injunction placed on the transfer of Perth-based First Officers Paul Burkamshaw, Stephen Power and Tian Viljoen.

Before Justice Julie Anne Dodds-Streeton, Mr Hyde argued the three were junior to him on the Qantas seniority list and so the transfers breached seniority entitlements of Qantas’ enterprise bargaining agreements.

He sought penalties against Qantas for the alleged breach.

The Perth pilots were First Officers who flew Boeing 737s on short haul routes, while Mr Hyde was a Second Officer who flew B747s on long haul routes.

Qantas argued that Mr Hyde was not qualified to be a First Officer nor trained to operate B737s – and would have needed 13 weeks full-time training, and to be promoted, to do so.

The company stressed that First Officers were qualified to take off and land aircraft, while a Second Officer was not.

Justice Dodds-Streeton noted Mr Hyde was not sufficiently qualified to fly 737s.

She dubbed as ‘weak’ Mr Hyde’s claim that the failure to transfer him based on seniority was a breach of Qantas’ enterprise agreements.

Mr Hyde’s application for the transfers to be quashed was dismissed.

Photo: Adrian Pingstone

STAFF REPORTER

RELATED NEWS: PERTH PILOTS GET THEIR TRANSFERS

A Perth-based magistrate has ordered a national aviation services company to pay a penalty of $96,030 for underpaying 33 pilots.

The Federal Magistrates Court in Perth has imposed the penalty against National Jet Systems Pty Ltd, which operates a fleet of jets offering freight and passenger services throughout Australia.

Federal Magistrate Toni Lucev found the company had breached workplace laws by underpaying 33 pilots a total of $123,423 in 2006-2007.

The underpayments were the result of National Jet Systems failing to provide the pilots with wage increases they were entitled to under their workplace agreements.

Magistrate Lucev said there was a need to impose a penalty “to demonstrate to others the seriousness with which the court views contravention of industrial instruments, with a view to deterring others from committing such contraventions”.

National Jet Systems rectified the underpayments after the Fair Work Ombudsman commenced legal proceedings.

The biggest underpayment of an individual pilot was $7337.

The Fair Work Ombudsman also alleged that company had breached workplace laws by applying duress to two pilots in an effort to pressure them into signing workplace agreements.

However, Magistrate Lucev dismissed this allegation, finding that while National Jet Systems had applied pressure to the two pilots, it did not amount to unlawful duress.

CHRIS THOMSON

Airservices Australia is using airforce airspace to cut flight noise over Perth’s northern suburbs.

Under the trial, some international flights from Perth Airport are using the military airspace when the Royal Australian Air Force does not need it.

Some aircraft that between 10pm and 7am would normally depart to the north, and dogleg toward the ocean as low as 760 metres, are taking a different route over houses further north at a minimum altitude of 2400 metres.

From east to west, suburbs now receiving less noise include Beechboro, Mirrabooka, Malaga, Koondoola, Balga, Warwick, Hammersley, Carine, Duncraig, Watermans Bay and Marmion.

Airservices Australia expects the extra altitude will reduce aircraft noise on the ground.

However, Banksia Grove, Carramar, Merriwa, Butler, Clarkson, Jindalee, Quinns Rocks and Mindarie are receiving some extra night time noise.

Up to four flights are using the route each evening.

The trial will last several months and a review will be conducted in March next year.

Depending on feedback, the new route may be extended to cover some flights at all times of the day.

CHRIS THOMSON

EXCLUSIVE: A Qantas pilot who denied claims by an outranking officer that he displayed suicidal tendencies during a drinking session has won back the right to fly.

The Administrative Appeals Tribunal in Sydney has heard that in March last year former air force pilot Jeremy James Hackett was a second officer with Qantas when – on a trip to the Argentine capital of Buenos Aires – he dined with his captain and fellow officers.

Mr Hackett, now 40, continued to party and drink with first officer Simon Redhead whom he had met only that night.

DEATH AND REINCARNATION

Late into the evening, Mr Hackett spoke of death and reincarnation, and the impact of environmental degradation on the planet and his children, and Mr Redhead became concerned for his colleague’s safety.

Mr Redhead contacted a Qantas welfare officer and claimed Mr Hackett was delusional and suicidal.

Qantas doctors became involved, and Mr Hackett was stood down. He returned to Sydney as a passenger, accompanied by a psychologist, on the flight he had been scheduled to help operate.

In April 2010, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority suspended medical certificates Mr Hackett needed to keep flying. He appealed the decision and in October 2010 was again permitted to fly – subject to conditions.

Mr Hackett appealed the conditions and in a tribunal decision delivered yesterday succeeded in having the conditions relaxed somewhat.

APOCALYPSE

Mr Redhead told the tribunal that Mr Hackett had discussed the occult, Waco sect leader David Koresh, saving himself from suicide, protecting himself from his demons, preparing his family for the apocalypse, and leaving his body.

The first officer also claimed Mr Hackett was delusional and angry to the point of hitting the table and snarling.

It was also contended that Mr Hackett had been morose and tearful, and near the window of his hotel room when he said: “stop me from killing myself”.

In the tribunal, Mr Hackett denied he had been suicidal. He said he did not recall wanting to kill himself.

A Qantas doctor who checked on him at his hotel room the next morning said he had presented as lucid and not suicidal.

QANTAS PLANT

Mr Redhead said he saw Mr Hackett check behind pot plants to see if people were hiding there, and that Mr Hackett had suspected him of being a psychologist planted by Qantas to monitor him.

The tribunal heard Mr Hackett had earlier suffered a moderately severe depressive disorder for which he was treated in 2007. Mr Hackett was not permitted to fly for about six months during 2008.

Evidence from Mr Hackett’s psychologist that he had made an excellent recovery from his 2007 illness and no longer suffered a psychiatric disorder was accepted by the tribunal.

Mr Hackett has requested 12 months leave from Qantas starting July 5 so he can return to the air force where requirements for flying are different and he has been cleared to fly unrestricted.

Photo: Adrian Pingstone

CHRIS THOMSON

EXCLUSIVE: A group of Australian aviators is set to step into the breach left when the Red Bull Air Race pulled out of Perth.

The Sports Aircraft Association of Australia is planning a ‘Langley Park Fly-in’ involving more than 100 aircraft for Saturday 15 and Sunday 16 of October.

Included in the planned program are a Boeing aircraft fly-past, water bombing display, and commando exhibition by WA’s own crack Special Air Service regiment.

The skills of former Red Bull air race pilot Matt Hall will be featured.

Also on the cards is a Red Bull Team aerobatic display and a RAAF fly-past and handling display.

The airshow will begin at 12.40pm on the Saturday and 11am on the Sunday.

The SAAA advises that the public will be welcome to view its members’ machines and chat with the owners.

Gates will open at 10.00am – which will allow aviation fanatics to see the planes arriving.

Entry is free, but a gold coin donation to Telethon is encouraged.

Public entry to the fly-in will be from Terrace Road.

The event will be the seventh Langley Park Fly-in and the first since 2009. It will be the first since Red Bull last year cancelled all its air races on safety grounds.

In the 1920s, the grassy, 11.7 hectare Langley Park was Perth’s first aerodrome.

Victoria Avenue and Plain Street between Terrace Road and Riverside Drive will be closed from 6:00am to 4:30pm on the Saturday and Sunday of the event.

The river foreshore including the cycleway between Victoria Avenue and Plain Street will also be closed. The City of Perth says this is to ensure public safety during the air displays over the river.

STAFF REPORTER

The WA government has signed an agreement with Asia’s biggest airline, China Southern Airlines, towards introducing direct flights between Perth and the big red nation.

The deal will give WA direct access to the world’s biggest tourism market for the first time and was sealed at a ceremony in Guangzhou today.

In China for the signing, Tourism Minister Kim Hames said the agreement was a positive step for WA’s tourism industry.

“The securing of an agreement with China Southern Airlines, one of the world’s great airlines, for direct flights to Perth would give the state’s tourism operators a tremendous boost,” Dr Hames said.

China Southern Airlines is the largest airline in China and has hubs in Guangzhou and Beijing.

Using a fleet of more than 400 Airbus, Boeing and Embraer aircraft, the airline operates an extensive domestic network in China and international services to the Middle East, Asia, Africa, Europe, North America and Australia.

The airline already has links with WA after the establishment of its flying college campuses at Jandakot and Merredin in 1993.

In 2010, 12,000 Chinese visitors came to WA, an increase of 32.1 per cent on 2009.

“The potential of the Chinese market is incredible,” Dr Hames said.

“But currently WA only attracts about three per cent of Chinese visitors to Australia, and the Government and Tourism WA want to rectify that and significantly increase our share of the Chinese market.

“Clearly, direct flights will greatly assist in meeting that challenge.”