The result will now allow Captain Iain Gridlay chance to regain some sleep and hopefully the Head of the Glass house will return his licence after holding onto it for the past 22 months.
There has been a situation where the Authority have acted upon the evidence of one person who due to the present culture of compensation claims they not only ran with the case but even coached the potential claiment on how to conduct himself and answer questions in court.(and briefed the press)
Each of the potential points of charge put up by the Authority were, by reading and exploring the meaning of the ANO discharged, this was done by getting them to admit the written word as taken from the ANO and by agreeing that the issues were weak.(Clutching at Straws!!).
By having an expert witness to not only listen when allowed (in Scotland the expert cannot be in court when the prosecution expert is giving evidence) but to enable the defence to have a person who can counter the evidence quickly by finding the correct Article or Rule as written in the ANO and or Company Operations Manual. Along with being able as in this case to look at the evidence and statements taken by the prosecution and find points of issue. Such as the failure of the Met office to forecast CB and TS activity (Which by producing radar pictures they agreed the TAF's were lacking), By proving through lecturing the jury of the build up of CB/TS that these present a hazard to flying and that by the decision to carryout a precautionary landing to wait for weather clearance was right and proper(Again as indicated in a recent GASIL).But then to be crossed examined that this action contravened Rule 5 (Give me ammunition and I shall fight).
The final verdict vindicates the Pilot but makes you wonder why the case was brought, as there was no corroboration of evidence and the final charges having to be broken down in such away that the only point of charge being failure to correctly brief the passengers (£500 fine!). A charge that if brought against a pilot under normal circumstances would result in a letter or ticking off by phone from your ops inspector.
How much has this cost!.
Long live the truth and the help of a good teacher ( Thanks Flying Lawyer. Respect!
