The Airservices Australia hypoxic pilot emergency checklist did not contain guidance on ceasing the emergency response. This increased the risk that a controller may inappropriately downgrade the emergency response during a developing hypoxic scenario.
To be advised
Airservices stated that it is:
committed to continual improvement of our systems and procedures and to that end, we are reviewing the IFER [(in-flight emergency response)] checklist to include further consideration of the need to suggest descent to a pilot where hypoxia is suspected, even after an operations normal report is received.
The ATSB recognises Airservices’ intention to undertake a review of the IFER checklist. The ATSB will monitor the outcome of the review and any action taken towards the satisfactory resolution of this safety issue.
