NZCAA Behind the 8 Ball
SOUTHLAND TIMES 9/6/06
JUDGE SLAMS HELICOPTER PILOT
A HELCOPTER PILOT WAS FINED FOR OPERATING AN UNAIRWORTHY MACHINE WHILE ON ATOs
The pilot accepted he shouldnt have flown across Foveaux Strait after he dameged his rotor blade while landing on a mutton bird island
The damage was inspected by an engineer after he got back and reported it grade 4 or the most serious of damages, the blade had a 210mm crack in it
It maks me wonder were this pilot was coming from when he said he didnt not want to leave these people on the island which they had been on in good shelter for the past month because of detiorating weather but sooner fly them back across the nortourios Foveaux Strait , even th eJudge said they should have stayed put.The judge said" Poeples lives were at risk theres no question about that"
He ws fined $3000 and CAA did not seek a disqualification of his licence
Isnt this a vey serious breach of the CAA Rules
whats giong on behind the scenes at Lower Hutt
arent NZCAA saying that helicopters are one of the biggest problemns they have.
For an AOC holder to get away this light makes a joke of all that has happened here in NZ in the past few months