Air N.Z. pilot to retire early

Press, 9 October 1976, Page 6

Air N.Z. pilot to retire early

PA Auckland The captain of an Air New’ Zealand DCB who was disciplined last year because of the New lands incident will leave the airline. This was confirmed today by the air line. A spokesman said: "Captain Nicco] said he , wished to leave for purely ■personal reasons — and we ■ accepted his resignation.” An Airline Pilots’ Association spokesman described it las “early retirement from the ■airline." Captain Niccol, he said, would leave the airline I early in 1977. Captain Niccol, aged 45, i would normally have been Idue for retirement from the [airline in five to 10 years time. i He was the pilot in comimand of the airliner w'hich flew low over the suburb of I Newlands. Wellington, a year igo. Though the cause was hater found to be a malfuncItioning beacon, an inquiry | found that Captain Niccol [should have used other navigational aids available to I double-check his position.

The general manager of the airline (Mr M. R. Davis) said that Captain Niccol was considered a good pilot, but the company took the most severe disciplinary action yet imposed on one of its pilots against him. Captain Niccol and his first officer suffered losses of seniority, and were put on to a long and rigorous retraining programme.

In recent weeks, talks have taken place between the airline and the Pilots’ Association about the case. The association declined to comment today. Captain Niccol was not available for comment.