Originally Posted by
The name is Porter
This is on the right track. And you could add the political interference that possibly (probably) had a bearing on both gentlemen. Plus a stack of other factors.
Do you think? This is often quoted, but I'm not sure. Where is the actual evidence that there was political interference with Chippindale? Air New Zealand didn't exactly come up smelling of roses in his report. I knew Chippindale briefly. He had warmth and integrity, but also didn't really give a rat's what anyone thought of him, and he deplored bull****. I'd have thought he'd have been the last person to be vulnerable or susceptible to political interference.
On the other hand, Mahon wrote that he felt the Commission was set up to pay lip service to the Chippindale report and simply rubber stamp it. This is evidenced by the fact the Commission was set up as a one man band. Mahon probably - and understandably - resented this, which made him vulnerable to manipulation by ALPA which they then took full advantage of.