Radar for small planes?

Press, 21 October 1989, Page 10

Radar for small planes?

PA Wellington Passengers may be banned from the front seats of small airliners, which may also have to carry weather radar, the Foxpine Air Charter inquiry was told. The month-long hearing was called by the Attorney-General after air accident inspectors raised concerns about the accident, particularly air-traffic-con-trol actions, the effectiveness of radar and radio navigational beacons, and surveillance by civil aviation authorities of third-level and commuter airlines.

Counsel will present final submissions late next week.

The inquiry has centred on the findings of an air accident inspector, Mr Dmitri Zotov, that a false signal lured the pilot-owner,

Mr Noel Oliver Oxnam, into thinking he was over the Wanganui beacon when he was really 40km away, over Ahu Ahu Valley. The May 12, 1988, accident occurred at night, and while a number of witnesses said they heard the twin-engined aircraft, it was seen from only two places, The inquiry heard that the Chief Inspector of Air Accidents, Mr Ron Chippindale, is expected to make recommendations to the division prohibiting untrained front-seat passengers. He is also expected to make recommendations that weatherradar be mandatory on commuter airliners such as the Seneca.