Mahindra Aerospace aircraft grounded in Australia

Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) has temporarily suspended the operations of Mahindra Aerospace GA8 aircraft.

The development came after a fatal GA8 aircraft accident on July 14, 2019 in Sweden during a skydiving flight. None of the nine people on board survived the accident. 

The GA8 is manufactured in Australia by GippsAero, a Mahindra subsidiary, based in the Latrobe Valley.

"CASA has temporarily suspended GA8 operations as a precautionary step pending the outcome of further investigation by Swedish and European authorities," the authority said in a statement on July 20. 

"The temporary suspension will be for up to 15 days from midnight 20 July to midnight 03 August 2019 and affects all GA8 aircraft operating in Australia and all Australian registered GA8 aircraft operating overseas."

Subsequently, European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has issued an 'Emergency Airworthiness Directive' to European GA8 aircraft owners and operators to not operate the aeroplane except for ferry flights.

"CASA has sent an airworthiness engineer to Sweden to observe the accident investigation and collect relevant safety information," the statement said.

"There are 63 GA8 aircraft registered in Australia out of a world-wide fleet of 228."

The GA8 is a single engine high wing aeroplane with fixed tricycle landing gear. In Australia, GA8 is used in a range of operations including charter, aerial work and parachuting. IANS