chris lz
The many people that agree with the Commissioners findings are for the most part as you say lay people. There are pilots and ex pilots with many thousands of hours experience who agree with Ron Chippendale, himself a very experienced aviator, and well trained in aircraft accident investigation.
Air New Zealand made mistakes in the Nav dept. There is no disputing that. But a Captain is not a Captain just to wear four stripes.
When statements are made such
but just because the rules state that the pilot is responsible for navigation under VMC rules, it does not automatically follow that the pilot should be blamed for an accident
Then I shudder, if that is the case what is the point of many experienced people getting together and using that experience to make rules to be complied with by less experienced people until they are themselves experienced. We all know rules are bent sometimes, but only if there is absolute certainty that by so doing the safety of the operation is not jeopardised.
In this case people had carried out descents not as directed by the rules, but they had Erebus, Ross Island, Beaufort Island in sight for many many miles and were absolutely certain of their position. The one flight that had bad weather prior to 901 diverted, and as the end result of 901 shows, with the weather they had, below requirements for the approved descent, they should also have diverted.