KAP Leader and Federal Member for Kennedy Bob Katter has thanked Ergon Energy for quickly reversing their decision to ground all Queensland R44 Helicopter contractors.
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The news came within the hour of Mr Katter alerting media that Ergon had suspended the helicopters based on an information bulletin from Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), reminding pilots to be vigilant of a manageable issue that had always existed.
In the wake of cyclone season the decision rendered pilots without work.
R44 helicopter contractors are hired to assess powerline damage and outages.
Mr Katter said there was a cyclone beating down on Queensland and normally these pilots would be getting ready to deploy,” Mr Katter said.
“Before reversing their decision Ergon was ‘writing a report’ and would have hired larger helicopters to fly in which would have cost $3000ph.”
Trevor Riley from All Terrain Helicopters in Georgetown said the work they do for Ergon is about 40% of their income.
“The suspension was an overreaction to a standard notice,” Mr Riley said.