QANTAS ACTION FOLLOWING BANGKOK INVESTIGATION REPORT

Qantas Airways said today that it had taken action on all issues concerning Qantas identified in the Australian Transport Safety Bureau report into the QF1 accident at Bangkok on 23 September 1999.

Chief Executive Officer, Geoff Dixon, said Qantas had co-operated fully with the ATSB and accepted the findings of the investigation report in relation to Qantas.

"Qantas has a proud reputation for safety, built up over 80 years," Mr Dixon said. "However, we accept the ATSB's judgement that this was a timely 'wake-up call' for the airline.

"The ATSB found that the accident resulted from a complex mixture of factors, including Qantas procedures and the fact that the aircraft aquaplaned on an ungrooved runway that was affected by water following very heavy rain."

Mr Dixon said Qantas had always recognised the importance of continually reviewing and enhancing its operational training and procedures.

"As a result of the lessons learned from the Bangkok accident and the subsequent investigation process," Mr Dixon said, "we have strengthened those procedures by the introduction of:

· more formal and structured hazard identification, risk assessment, change management and management decision-making processes;

· improved training and procedures for approaches and landings on water-affected and contaminated runways, including a directive to use flaps 30 and full reverse thrust whenever runways are wet or contaminated;

· a more expansive emergency procedures course for all flight and cabin crew.

"In addition, Qantas:

· has retained an independent and experienced international flight safety expert as an external adviser to the Qantas Board Safety Committee; and

· conducted a number of independent audits of its flight operations management practices and procedures."

Mr Dixon said the ATSB investigation found no evidence of any decision by Qantas to intentionally reduce operational safety standards.

"Like any business, Qantas continuously reviews its operations to improve productivity," Mr Dixon said. "This is particularly important for Qantas because it operates in an increasingly competitive industry. That said, under no circumstances would we compromise safety standards in any way to gain efficiencies.

"We believe the changes we have introduced over the past 19 months have made Qantas an even better airline," Mr Dixon said.

"We are totally committed to the highest standards of safety, aircraft maintenance and flight operations. We will continue to review our training methods and operational procedures to identify where we can make further improvements."