Stewards’ chief backs report

Press, 1 May 1981, Page 4

Stewards’ chief backs report

PA Auckland The findings of the Royal Commission into the Mount Erebus crash inquiry are supported by the incoming head of the Airline Stewards' and Hostesses’ Union. The conclusions that the Royal Commission (Mr Justice Mahon) reached against Air New Zealand and some of-its senior executives were “inescapable,” said the Union’s president-elect, Mr lan Hambly, yesterday.

He admired his Honour for saying what he had said.

, Mr Hambly, who identified the remains of the crew after the crash, said some people would question his feelings because of his involvement with the victims and their families. “There is no doubt I was affected, but I have recovered. I have thoroughly read the report and I am impressed with the depth the judge goes to explain his findings. ■ “I agree with the conclusions reached,” he said. L.When an Air New Zealand employee was alleged to have committed an offence either he was suspended until an investigation was completed or else he was dismissed.

“I think it is incumbent on the board to do the same with senior management,” Mr Hambly said. Speaking on behalf of 1165 union members, he said a new chief executive needed to be appointed — one who had no allegiance to either Air New Zealand or NAC (the old National Airways Corporation). Since the merger (in 1978) management had fought over the spoils. Anything less than a new non-aligned chief executive and the war that had been going on since the merger would continue, he said.

He believed some of the things that led to the accident were still occurring. His union was still being thwarted by administrative procedures despite directives from the Director of Civil Aviation (Captain E. T. Kippenberger). One specific issue, he said, involved the union’s technical,, health and safety committee. It was. according to the civil aviation division, to be involved in deciding new evacuation procedures on aircraft. But within a month of the directive from the division the airline implemented

evacuation procedures for the new Boeing 747 jumbo jets without consultations.

He said that when the union studied the new evacuation procedures it found 140 mistakes — all of which had now been rectified.

Safety procedures on DCBs and Friendships had also been changed without consultation and mistakes had been discovered, he said. The four senior pilots who gave evidence on behalf of the. airline may be suspended from flying .by the Airline Pilots’ Association. The association is believed to be concerned at the amount of stress the pilots are under.

The president of the association Captain D. G. McAlister, confirmed last evening that the pilots’ right tb fly would come up for discussion at an executive meeting on Monday. The association rules provide for suspension and expulsion in certain circumstances.

The pilots are: the director of flight operations, Captain D. R; “Eden; the technical flight manager,-. Captain lan Gemmell; the flight operations manager, Captain Ross Johnson; and’ a DCIO captain with management responsibilities, Captain Bruce Crosby.