Pacific Blue pilot charged after safety compromised -NZ CAA.

[Nigelinoz]

Pilot charged after 'unsafe' takeoff - travel | Stuff.co.nz

The Civil Aviation Authority has charged the pilot of a Pacific Blue passenger jet for allegedly compromising safety by taking off from Queenstown Airport last year after the deadline for departures.
It was reported at the time Flight DJ89 departed Queenstown for Sydney on June 22 in darkness, potentially endangering the 140 passengers and crew aboard.
CAA said today that two charges had been laid under the Civil Aviation Act following an extensive investigation into the departure of the B737-800 aircraft from Queenstown, in conditions of poor light and visibility.
"The investigation concluded that the airline's procedures and operating conditions were breached in this take off...and that safety was compromised as a result."
Director of Civil Aviation Steve Douglas said that the airline had not been charged.

Alarming stuff ,especially when an airport has no runway lights.
I wonder why the airline has not been hauled over the coals,surely they are responsible for the actions of their employees?
Cheers
N'oz

 

[rwatts]

Pilot charged after 'unsafe' takeoff - travel | Stuff.co.nz

Alarming stuff ,especially when an airport has no runway lights.
I wonder why the airline has not been hauled over the coals,surely they are responsible for the actions of their employees?
Cheers
N'oz

I guess it depends on how far outside the airline's documented training, policy and procedures the pilot operated. It would seem a little unfair to ping the airline if such behaviour was demonstrably against airline policy. One would hope the CAA looked for an environment that may have encouraged or tolerated such cowboy behaviour.

Richard.

 

[Nigelinoz]

I guess it depends on how far outside the airline's documented training, policy and procedures the pilot operated. It would seem a little unfair to ping the airline if such behaviour was demonstrably against airline policy. One would hope the CAA looked for an environment that may have encouraged or tolerated such cowboy behaviour.

Richard.

I totally accept your point Richard and I guess ultimately it comes down to a case of one taking responsibility for one's actions however the question that needs to be asked is whether the Pac Blue flight despatch department knew that the flight was going to depart in darkness and if they did whether they authorised it,if they knew and said nothing then isn't a measure of blame attributable to the company?
Cheers
N'oz

 

[markis10]

The aircraft departed in daylight, so lets get that very clear. ZQN departures are required to be done 30 minutes before evening civil twilight to allow for an approach back into ZQN in light should something go wrong, in the case in question the aircraft departed at 1725 with ECT at 1744.

It was the pilots decision to depart, one ATC cannot stop, however crew were stood down on arrival at their destination by the company.

 

[Nigelinoz]

The aircraft departed in daylight, so lets get that very clear. ZQN departures are required to be done 30 minutes before evening civil twilight to allow for an approach back into ZQN in light should something go wrong, in the case in question the aircraft departed at 1725 with ECT at 1744.

It was the pilots decision to depart, one ATC cannot stop, however crew were stood down on arrival at their destination by the company.

markis10 do you have information that is contrary to what is being reported here? because the media report (We all know that media can get things wrong) is claiming that the aircraft departed in darkness yet you say it was daylight,is there an safety bureau report or similar available on the incident?
Cheers
N'oz

 

[markis10]

markis10 do you have information that is contrary to what is being reported here? because the media report (We all know that media can get things wrong) is claiming that the aircraft departed in darkness yet you say it was daylight,is there an safety bureau report or similar available on the incident?
Cheers
N'oz

The very same media accurately reported the event at the time

Queenstown Pacific Blue takeoff pilots stood down | Stuff.co.nz


"The flight had been scheduled to leave at 4.30pm, but apparently did not depart until 5.25pm - 20 minutes past the 5.05pm cutoff on one of the shortest days of the year.
CAA spokesman Bill Sommer said the flight "appears to have taken off late" and investigators would speak to the pilot, the airline and witnesses."



Darkness comes at the end of civil twilight when the sun is 6 degrees below the horizon, not at the end of daylight.

 

[samh004]

markis10 do you have information that is contrary to what is being reported here? because the media report (We all know that media can get things wrong) is claiming that the aircraft departed in darkness yet you say it was daylight,is there an safety bureau report or similar available on the incident?
Cheers
N'oz

I agree with markis10, as an almost Queenstown local and recall the reports of the departure while I was there last year.

I believe they are (or were) planning to install landing lights before this winter season, but not sure if that has happened yet.

 

[markis10]

A Pacific Blue pilot argues he did not act carelessly when taking off from Queenstown Airport a few minutes before twilight.
The 54-year-old Auckland man, who has name suppression, denies flying a Boeing 737 in a careless manner during the flight from Queenstown to Sydney in June 2010.
The Civil Aviation Authority has laid the charge, which carries a maximum fine of $NZ7000 ($A5500), and his trial started in Queenstown District Court on Monday, Fairfax reported.

Read more: Sydney-bound pilot in court over Queenstown take-off
​

 

[richie9x]

From Pilot In Court Over Pacific Blue Queenstown Flight... | Stuff.co.nz

About 30 seconds after departure, a phone conversation was recorded between Rescue Fire Service officer Nigel Henderson and Airways flight service specialist manager Daryl Palmer.
Mr Henderson asked "How big are his gonads?" and a few seconds later Mr Palmer said: "coughking hell I haven't seen this before."