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Tuesday, 18 March 1997
Page: 2359

(Question No. 992)


Mr Tanner asked the Minister for Transport and Regional Development, upon notice, on 2 December 1996:

(1) Did an aircraft dump fuel over Ashfield, NSW, on 30 July 1996.

(2) If so, has he asked Airservices Australia to investigate the incident and has he received a report or information from Airservices Australia with respect to the incident; if not, when does he expect to receive a report or information.


Mr Sharp —The answer to the honourable member's question is as follows:

(1) I am aware of reports that an Evergreen International Airlines B747-200 departing from Sydney Airport on 30 July 1996 was sighted appearing to release fuel on take-off.

(2) Airservices Australia wrote to the operator, Evergreen International Airlines, requesting that the aircraft be inspected and any fault be quickly rectified. Following similar alleged incidents, my office also took the matter up with Qantas, which was the charterer of the aircraft. Qantas has advised that it offered assistance to Evergreen with aircraft troubleshooting and defect rectification and that, following acceptance of this offer by Evergreen, five broken vent valves in the wing tanks were replaced.