Far north Queensland-based airline Barrier Aviation will return to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal in Sydney today to challenge its grounding.

Barrier Aviation had its operating licence cancelled by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) in March after an investigation into maintenance issues.

The company has been forced to shed most of its staff since its initial grounding last December.

It has applied to have CASA’s decision reviewed.

Today’s directions hearing is expected to set the matter down for a 10-day hearing in December.