Expert Aviation Lawyers call for more stringent rules

Specialist aviation lawyers representing people injured in the Shoreham air show tragedy earlier this year say the latest interim report from the Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB) clearly shows that the rules for the maintenance of high performance ex-military jets need to be more stringent. 

In this latest report air crash investigators make several safety recommendations following the revelations that the ejector seat had time expired explosive cartridges, a technical manual for the aircraft did not contain all amendments and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) could not determine if the aircraft met the requirements of its Permit to Fly from December 2014.

This ex-military Hawker Hunter jet aircraft crashed into the westbound carriageway of the A27 on 22 August this year while taking part in an air display near Shoreham airport. Eleven people on the ground were killed, a number of others were seriously injured and the pilot also suffered serious injuries.

Specialist aviation lawyers at Irwin Mitchell are representing and advising people left injured following the Shoreham air crash. They are helping them to access the therapies and rehabilitation they need to overcome the ordeal.

The AAIB report makes seven safety recommendations relating to the maintenance and airworthiness of ex-military aircraft including:

• Requiring operators of ex-military aircraft fitted with ejection seats to ensure that information is available as to how make the devices safe after a crash
• The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) reviews guidance in respect of ejection seat maintenance
• The CAA should establish a process for effective sharing of ex-military jet maintenance knowledge and a minimum standard for amending the technical publications for each type of jet operated on the UK Civil register
• The process of issuing permits to fly should also be reviewed.

The Special Bulletin also outlined that the pilot had over 14,200 hours of flying experience although only 40 hours were on this type of aircraft. While last week police confirmed that he had been interviewed as part of their enquiries.

Jim Morris, a specialist aviation lawyer at Irwin Mitchell and former RAF pilot, said:

Irwin Mitchell represents and is advising the families of people who were tragically killed as well as people who were injured in the Shoreham air crash. If you would like to speak in confidence to an expert regarding this accident, or any other aviation incident you were involved in, see our Shoreham Air Accident page for more information or alternatively our Air Accident Claims page.