Joneses keeping up with Aviation investigation

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority will begin investigations into Northern Territory farmer Milton Jones, from TEN’s observational series Keeping Up With The Joneses, after looking at footage of the series in which he may have breached safety regulations.

In the series he was seen using a helicopter to tow his 15-year-old son for water-skiing.

In March, CASA raided the offices of production company, WTFN, and seized raw footage. CASA took seven of fifteen episodes that aired last year.

Jones, who failed in an attempt to have the warrant overturned in the Federal Court this month, has not lodged an appeal.

The complaints made against Jones, owner of North Australian Helicopters, also include allegedly allowing people to ride on the skids of a helicopter and leaving a running helicopter unattended.

An investigator told the court CASA needed to view the unedited footage to prove the offences had been committed – or whether they simply appeared to have occurred because of “an editing issue” or “poetic licence” for broadcasting purposes.

In March, Jones told the Northern Territory News, “It was perfectly safe. I’ve been flying for 20 years and am very experienced. All the yahoo has gone out of me by now.”

He also said he was endorsed for low-level flying.

Last October Farmsafe Australia criticised a scene in which three year old “Little Milton” was shown steering a truck while sitting on his father’s lap.

8 more episodes of the series will be screened on TEN later this year.

Source: Daily Telegraph