My thoughts exactly, a public apology from Heffernan is not out of order.
1. YPWR is 60NM further than YMIA
2. YMIA was forecast fine and the nearest suitable aerodrome.
3. I don't believe they could have diverted to YPWR anyway as it wasn't an emergency at the point of diversion. YPWR needs 48 hours prior notice and is contained within a bunch of restricted areas. Yes you could go there on fire, but I don't think you could use it as a weather alternate.
Heffernan is just trying to blame the PIC without actually looking at the evidence or having any understanding of the situation they were in.
Last edited by neville_nobody; 23rd Nov 2013 at 05:30.