30 June 2010 10:00
Air NZ slams 'speculative' comments made over Airbus crash
Air New Zealand has hit out at an aviation safety specialist's interpretation of what went on before an Airbus A320 crashed into the Mediterranean off France in 2008, calling his comments "speculative and baseless"
editor@newzealandtimes.co.uk
A report prepared for a French judicial inquiry found the Air New Zealand plane lost control and crashed, killing the two German pilots and five New Zealanders on board, as the crew tried to perform a low-speed test "in inappropriate conditions".
The report essentially agreed with the findings of an interim report by Paris-based Bureau d'Enquetes et d'Analyses (BEA), which found the plane stalled during a low-speed, low-altitude test manoeuvre as it was coming in to land at Perpignan airport.
Aviation safety specialist David Learmount, from the FlightGlobal website, said the interim report laid out the facts but left "loads of questions unanswered".
Air New Zealand crew in the cockpit encouraged the German pilots to carry out a low-speed test after air traffic controllers denied a request to carry out the test at higher altitude, he said.
Those on board were frustrated they had not been able to complete testing, and he felt Air New Zealand crew pushed for tests that contributed to the crash, he said.
"The vast majority of what happened here was to do with human frustration at not being able to get a job done, trying to get it done at a lower altitude than they should have done, and then getting into trouble," he told Radio New Zealand.
Air New Zealand told NZPA said it was "irresponsible" of Mr Learmount "to make speculative and baseless claims about what he thinks may have taken place in the cockpit of the A320 in November 2008".
Voice data showed there had been discussion about the low speed check well before the German pilot begun the test at his own initiative, the airline said.
"To suggest the Air New Zealand crew "encouraged" this in an environment of frustration is simply misleading."
Only one Air New Zealand staff member was in the cockpit, and he was fulfilling an observation role only, the airline said.
Frustration among the pilots was not reflected in the BEA report, or on the partial transcript of the voice data recorder, it said.
"Air New Zealand would encourage Mr Learmount to wait until the final judicial and BEA reports are completed before commenting on what may have caused the accident. His speculation is irresponsible and shows a lack of respect to those affected by the tragedy."
Courtesy of the New Zealand Herald
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