Attack on air authorities

Press, 2 November 1989, Page 6

Attack on air authorities

PA Wellington The Foxpine Air Charter crash inquiry ended yesterday with strong criticism of aviation authorities and the air accident inspectors. ' Crown counsel, Miss Kristy McDonald, said in the final submissions that understaffing and bad co-ordination between groups within the Ministry of Transport had led to inadequate surveillance of the thirtWevel airlioie which meant that irhad continued to fly when it should

have been grounded. Miss McDonald recommended that staff reductions in the Ministry’s air transport division be countered, that communications be improved, that records be computerised, and that there be better communication between the division and the Air Services Licensing Authority. 'She also recommended that weather radar be mandatory on scheduled air services. The inquiry, under 'Judge Car-

ruthers of the District Court, with a retired aircraft ■ engineer, Mr Gordon Willetts, and a retired airline captain and air accident inspector, Captain Jack Leech, is expected to report to the Attor-ney-General within the next few weeks. Miss McDonald said part of the evidence of an air accident inspector, Mr Dmitri Zotov, had to be viewed with - caution, and there was insufficient evidence to support his hypothesis on the cause of the crash.■ . '