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.
In response to the safety issue, Airservices Australia stated it would review the IFER hypoxia checklist. The ATSB will monitor the outcome of the review and any action taken towards the satisfactory resolution of this safety issue.
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.
