AirAsia X was forced to make a number of changes to flightcrew procedures and training programs after a pair of operational non-compliances during approaches to Gold Coast Airport in May 2010, the ATSB said in a report released on Friday.
According to the report, an AirAsia X A330-343E was making a non-precision instrument approach to the Gold Coast in low visibility on May 4 and again on May 29 2010 when it descended below minimum safe altitudes, leaving the aircraft operating outside of controlled airspace.
Although the non-compliances both occurred above 1200ft, the ATSB said they were “indicators of a minor safety issue regarding the operator’s training of its flightcrews.”
The report said AirAsia X had since made charges to flightcrew procedures during instrument approaches and had modified its simulator training program to include more complex scenarios.
