Pilots urged to check waypoint entries after departing Saab 340s drift off course

Regional Express Airlines is revising its flight procedures following several incidents involving Saab 340B turboprops deviating from their intended departure paths immediately after take-off. These occurrences prompted pilots to manually regain control and restore the aircraft’s flight path. Specifically, one incident involved an aircraft taking off from Townsville bound for Hughenden on November 19th of last year. The operator acknowledges that these deviations occurred due to inaccuracies in waypoint entries during departures. Regional Express has implemented changes designed to ensure greater precision and pilot awareness regarding planned routes.