Gordon Vette flew for Air New Zealand. He knew that 13 circling approach intimately. His brilliant book 'Impact Erebus'
he wrote to dispel the myths, coverups and lies that hung around the investigations into the DC10 that crashed in Antartica in 1979.
He had great respect for the personal and professional attributes of the late Captain Jim Collins, in command of that flight to the ice. They had known each other for many years. In his book, Gordon Vette wanted to underline as best he could how competent was Jim Collins and how in the lead up to the CFIT Jim Collins was duped on two fronts. The INS programming stuff up and whiteout. More than any other expert analyising this accident, Gordon Vette had the impeccable credentials.
The Kai Tak approach? Well, in 'Impact Erebus' the author gives a superbly written step by step description from the pilot's point of view, and partly from the passenger's too, looking out incredulously at the washing stuck out on poles from the windows of the tenement blocks. He wrote the chapter to emphasise the handling ability required to safely execute that approach, one that Jim Collins also knew intimately.
There are very few of the calibre and credentials of Gordon Vette who have devoted the time and skill and effort, as he has, to relentlessly taking on the fabricators and setting the record straight.
Pardon the digression folks. Look out that extract about racking it round by Stonecutters.
Last edited by Fantome; 23rd May 2013 at 17:03.