Safety issue

Safety issue description

Sharp Airlines’ Flight crew operating manual required that:

  • a terminating check be completed if the aircraft was unattended for more than 60 minutes, but did not specify what checks were to be completed on return to the aircraft
  • pitot covers should be installed after the last flight of the day only, where the operator required that they be installed if the aircraft was unattended for longer than 60 minutes. 

In addition, the final visual check, completed by the first officer prior to closing the doors, did not include checking that pitot covers had been removed.
Issue number AO-2025-041-SI-01
Issue owner Sharp Airlines
Transport function Aviation: Air transport
Issue status Closed – Adequately addressed
Date issue released 20/01/2026
Issue status justification

Sharp Airlines has updated its flight crew operating manual to ensure clarity around when pitot covers should be installed, and which pre-flight inspections are to be completed by flight crew when returning to the aircraft. The manual now also includes a check to ensure the pitot tube covers have been removed as part of the pre-departure check. The ATSB is satisfied that this adequately addresses the safety issue.
Issue finalisation date 17/02/2026

Safety action

Action type Proactive action
Action number AO-2025-041-PSA-01
Organisation Sharp Airlines
Action description

Sharp Airlines advised that it was reviewing the company standard operating procedures, expected to be completed by March 2026, to ensure clarity of process for pre-flight inspections and pitot tube cover usage.
ATSB response

The ATSB welcomes the operator’s procedural review and will continue to monitor the safety issue to ensure the proposed action provides clarity on:

  • pitot tube covers usage
  • which pre-flight inspections are to be completed by flight crew when returning to the aircraft. 
Action status Closed

Organisation response

Date received 04/02/2026
Organisation Sharp Airlines
Response status Closed
Response text

Sharp Airlines has updated its flight crew operating manual to ensure clarity around when pitot covers should be installed, and which pre-flight inspections are to be completed by flight crew when returning to the aircraft. The manual now also includes a check to ensure the pitot tube covers have been removed as part of the pre-departure check. The ATSB is satisfied that this adequately addresses the safety issue.
ATSB response

The ATSB is satisfied that this adequately addresses the safety issue.
ATSB response date 04/02/2026