Pilot may resume flying

Press, 29 June 1981, Page 6

Pilot may resume flying

PA Auckland Captain Don Niccol, the Air New Zealand pilot involved in the Newlands beacon incident of 1976, may fly professionally again. After an Ombudsman’s investigation which was highly critical of the way the airline handled Captain Niccol’s case, the Airlirie Pilots Association has decided to act.

At an executive meeting in mid-July, it will discuss seeking either reinstatement as a pilot or reimbursement of losses for Captain Niccol. Captain Niccol resigned from the company after disciplinary action, including loss of seniority, was taken against him. He said on Saturday that

he would still like to return to airline flying if given the chance. “It was worse than an amputation when I gave it up,” he said. Captain Niccol, now 50, would still have five years flying ahead of him if he was with the company and in good health. Since resigning, he has established himself as a successful manufacturer of electronic printed circuits, and has been involved in environmental ventures, including recycling. The Ombudsman’s report, which found that Captain Niccols had not been adequately represented at inquiries into the incident, es-

tablished grounds for action,, he said. “While the Mount Erebus Royal Commission was sitting, I kept hearing little echoes of my own situation,” he said. “I was delighted with Mr Justice Mahon’s report. I thought it was a masterpiece. “It highlighted many of the problems faced by pilots, and the misconceptions of people not actively engaged in flying airliners.” . After the Newlands beacon incident, which happened while Captain Niccol was flying an approach into Wellington Airport, it was found that the beacon was prone to sending out faulty “ghost” signals.