Tuesday, March 06, 2012

Confusion over jet's takeoff window

Confusion "reigned" among airport staff about the takeoff window for a midwinter Sydney-bound passenger jet, Queenstown District Court heard this morning.

A 54-year-old Papakura pilot, who has interim name suppression, has denied operating a Boeing 737 in a careless manner on June 22, 2010, a charge laid by the Civil Aviation Authority.

He appeared before Judge Kevin Phillips for the third day of a defended hearing, during which witnesses presented evidence about the takeoff of the Pacific Blue flight almost two years ago.

Wellington International Airport manager Daniel Debono, a Queenstown Airport operations manager in 2010, told the court there was confusion about the timing of evening civil twilight (ECT).

The authority alleges the pilot should not have taken off after 5.14pm because airline rules stipulated departing aircraft needed at least 30 minutes before civil twilight cut off at 5.45pm.

The aircraft departed at 5.25pm.

Debono, under cross-examination, said he checked the twilight time using Airways' website and there were two times, a general regional time and an aerodrome-specific time.

Defence lawyer Matthew Muir asked about confusion among airport staff, Debono and then chief executive Steve Sanderson.

"It was not until CCTV was verified we determined its proximity to ECT.

"There were different views of ECT.

"I had been told by one staff member the aircraft departed after ECT. We were not sure if it was within the 30 minutes we expected the aircraft to depart," Debono said.

Airport staff went home and Debono reviewed CCTV footage a few days later.

Muir said confusion "reigned overnight" after the takeoff and asked whether there was a significant difference of opinion regarding ECT.

Debono said it was not uncommon.

"(Airports) are rife with speculation, people's views, it's not the first time I have come across red herrings.

"ECT restrictions do vary between airlines, what the aircraft does is their call."

Eyewitness Robert Clark, a mechanic who was living in Frankton in 2010, told the court the aircraft "just didn't look quite right" as it took off at a 20-degree to 30-degree angle.

"It appeared to be quite low," he said.

The defence case argues the pilot's actions were correct and any breach of requirements, if demonstrated, was below the level of carelessness.

The hearing continues.

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