Reply satisfies DC10 critic

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33777, 25 February 1975, Page 7

Reply satisfies DC10 critic

(N.Z.P.A, Staff Correspondent) LONDON, February 21. British inspectors < found “a few minor, but < significant factors” last rjyear which would have , made Air New Zealand ; DCIO aircraft unacceptable for inclusion 1 on the British register. • The deputy chairman of i the British Civil Aviation ; Authority (Mr R. R. Goodison) said this in a letter to ’ the Conservative member of ■ Parliament, Mr Norman Teb- ' bit, who questioned the , safety standard of the DC 10 of Air New Zealand which will be flown between Britain and Los Angeles by British (Airways crews. This will be | part of a new service be- i tween New Zealand and Britain. Mr Goodison added that i the authority was now satis- | tied, and a spokesman in Auckland for Air New ZeaI land has confirmed that changes have been made. The lack of a stand-by autometer (height-recording equipment) was an example of the unacceptable factors, said Mr Goodison. These were found during an airworthiness inspection. But the authority was now satisfied that the aircraft met all requirements, and some revised procedures had been included in a British Airways supplement to the Air New Zealand operations manual

for the DC 10. Where standards differed, the higher of the two would apply. Mr Tebbit said that he considered Mr Goodison’s reply to the points he had raised as “pretty satisfactory.” “In general terms, I’m ■ satisfied it is quite proper for this operation to go ahead,” . he said. CARGO DOOR Mr Tebbit, who has been questioning the safety of DClOs since the Turkish Airlines DCIO crash last year, had asked for the authority’s attitudes to a United States Congressional committee view that the floor of the aircraft should be strengthened, details on the regulations under which the aircraft would fly, and if there was any intention to seal the rear : cargo door. Mr Goodison said in his reply that the authority was satisfied with the modification to the door-locking mechanism and its associated safety system, with the requirement that an inspection be made by the flight engineer- before the aircraft left the tarmac apron. However, the engineer’s inspection could be dropped if the authority, which was keeping in close touch with its American counterpart and the aircraft manufacturer, was satisfied with the effectiveness of the improvements. It was considered undesirable to add to the work of the flight crew without good reason. Mr Goodison indicated that the authority would accept i

any American initiative requiring improvements to the floor, such as venting to equalise pressure.

Any serious breach of aviation regulations in or over ! Britain would lead to action I by the authority. The aircraft 'would remain registered in |New Zealand, .whose authorities would be responsible for any breach occurring over the high seas. Mr Tebbit said he was unaware of detailed differences between the Turkish DCIO and those owned by Air New Zealand. Air New Zealand has said it runs a longer-range version of the aircraft which has a smaller cargo door placed in ia different position. N.Z. COMMENT In Auckland, the director of technical services for Air New Zealand (Mr L. G. Brister) said that the changes re- ■ quested by the C.A.A. reflected “the different approaches to safety of British and American authorities.”, All the changes requested had been of a minor, technical nature. “For example, American regulations call for a red .warning light, but Britain demands a flashing light,” said Mr Brister. “The British asked us to change the light, and we received American approval for the change.” The change to the altimeter had involved a different method of installation rather than an extra instrument. All Air New Zealand DClOs

had been modified to cope with British requirements, and the airline had received American agreement to the changes. Mr Brister repeated previ-! ous airline statements that its | modified cargo doors had been fitted with a fool-proof locking device. No firm date has been set for the beginning of the service, but Mr Brister expects the first flight to be in midMarch.