RIP Capt. Dave Eden - Former AirNZ Flight Ops Manager

[ampan]

New Zealand Herald (http://classifieds.nzherald.co.nz/linead.cfm?pillar=14&subpillar=103&adid=6453860001)


Took on the job, and probably a cut in pay, in late 1978 or early 1979. Very soon after, the **** hit the fan. In February of 1979, an AirNZ Fokker Friendship landed in the sea. Then, all the AirNZ DC10s were grounded. Then, the Erebus disaster, and the subsequent legal proceedings.

[malcolmyoung90]

David Eden is portrayed quite frequently in the "Erebus: The Aftermath" mini-series. I have no idea whether this is an accurate portratyal though.

Out of interest, why were the Air NZ DC10's grounded in 1979?

[billyt]

DC10's around the world were grounded.

Dave was a straight up Flight Ops manager. One that worked for his troops rather than the other way round which is often the case.

[ampan]

Because of the DC10 crash at O'Hare Airport in early 1979. Some NTSB official had a rush of blood to the head and put it all down to a defective bolt in the engine mounting. It later transpired that the bolt had nothing to do with it. The cause was an improper procedure that was used to change the engine.

But the DC10 was subject to a worldwide grounding for about two months.