Powerlines long cause of pilots’ complaints

Press, 5 October 1985, Page 1

Powerlines long cause of pilots’ complaints

PA Nelson Authorities placed more importance on the price of an undersea power cable than on eight lives, said the chief executive of Air Albatross, Mr Murray Turley, last evening. A distressed Mr Turley was critical of the powerlines across Tory Channel and produced a letter he wrote to the former Minister of Transport, Mr Gair, in April, 1982. “I believe that unless this aerial powerline is replaced with a submarine cable it will inevitably lead to tragic and unnecessary deaths of air crew and passengers,” the letter said. “I respectfully urge you to take remedial action as quickly as possible in the interests of saving lives,” he said. The powerline crosses one of the main visual flight routes between Wellington, Picton, Nelson and the West Coast Mr Turley said in his letter that the lines were unsatisfactorily marked and

were virtually invisible against the sea background from the pilot’s point of view. “Because of the amount of air traffic that uses this route and because also up until now the route has been a safe low-level entry and exit to the Marlborough Sounds via Tory Channel, erection of the powerline is an open invitation to aerial disaster,” the letter said. Mr Turley produced a reply from Mr Gair dated May 21, 1982. “These powerlines constitute a hazard to air navigation and pilots should either fly at a height sufficient to keep the aircraft well clear of the obstruction or, if this is not possible because of the low cloud base, avoid using Tory Channel in such conditions,” Mr Gair said. “It is regretted that this hazard to air navigation exists,” Mr Gair said. “However, power must be reticulated and the Marlborough Electric Power Board advises that the alternative undersea cabling

was fully investigated but not adopted due to the quite unacceptable level of costs associated with operating, faults, and maintenance.” Last evening Mr Turley, a pilot of long experience, said that the pilot of the crashed plane, Mr Roger Phipps, who joined Air Albatross about three months ago and had wide flying experience in New Guinea and elsewhere, was very familiar with the Tory Channel route and had already flown it once yesterday. “With the towering cumulus (clouds) today it would have been a reasonable decision to proceed that way in view of passenger comfort,” he said. Mr Turley said the authorities seemed to regard cost as the main factor in deciding whether to put in high-tension cables. “Human safety does not appear to override monetary considerations.” Asked why Air Albatross continued to fly the Tory Channel route if the wires

made it dangerous to do so, Mr. Turley said all pilots were aware of the hazard and under normal circumstances the route could be flown with safety. It was the most direct route to Wellington for lower-level flying and was very scenic. “However, if one throws in a weather stress factor or a distraction occurs, a pilot may temporarily overlook the proximity of the wires. “In this case the pilot may have found it necessary to fly lower than he would have desired to avoid weather which would have caused a rough ride.” In a message to the families of the victims, Mr Turley said all Air Albatross staff were deeply distressed by the tragedy. “They would be united in expressing their sympathy to the relatives of those who have lost their lives. If the directors are able to help in any way we will do our best.”

Further reports, page 3