Coroner Peter Ryan at the inquest into the Carterton balloon crash.
OPINION:
There is a particular horror about the Carterton balloon disaster.
The bucolic image of the hot-air balloon pleasure trip over the countryside was shattered in a moment.
Eleven people died in a terrifying fireball when the balloon stuck in power lines, caught fire, soared upwards and then fell to the ground.
This was the country's third-worst air disaster, and it caused particular shock and grief in the Wellington region, with its multiple ties of family and friendship to the victims.
Now coroner Peter Ryan has confirmed what many suspected, that this was an entirely preventable tragedy.
If pilot Lance Hopping had pulled an emergency "rip-out" line, the balloon would have immediately deflated and prevented most, if not all, of the deaths.
The mistake seemed inexplicable from such an experienced pilot, Ryan said, but suggests that Hopping's long-term cannabis use could be to blame.
He found no proof that Hopping had smoked cannabis immediately before the flight.
Ryan now recommends, however, a toughening up of alcohol and drug testing for balloon pilots. This seems plain commonsense.
Nobody taking to the skies in a basket under a balloon would want the pilot to have been anywhere near drugs or alcohol recently.
Whether a cannabis habit is directly linked to the disaster or not, the cautionary principle here is not just sensible; it could be a matter of life and death.
As always, the authorities claim that they have changed the rules since the accident in 2012, and that things are much better and safer now. This is only partially reassuring.
It is shocking to find that in January 2012 the aviation safety industry seemed to rely on pilot's honesty in monitoring themselves.
It certainly failed to stop Hopping flying commercially without a medical certificate – his had lapsed the year before.
Civil Aviation Authority director Graeme Harris says a new rule covering all adventure aviation operators requires a level of safety similar to a small airline.
Operators now have to have a drug and alcohol program acceptable to the CAA.
Coroner Ryan, however, would like mandatory random drug and alcohol testing. Nobody can argue with this.
The small size of the commercial adventure sector means mandatory random testing is entirely do-able.
Harris says he would welcome stronger regulations to reduce the risk of pilots flying under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
And Transport Minister Simon Bridges says there needs to be zero tolerance for drugs in the industry. He wants a testing system that leaves "no wriggle room".
What's more, the people who entrust their lives to balloon pilots and others need reassuring.
The balloon disaster must have scared many people off the idea of taking to the skies.
Tough official action will be needed to bring them back.
But regulators need to act quickly on Ryan's recommendations, and tell the world they have done so.
Ryan criticizes legislators for taking seven years to implement safety changes last time – they came into force too late to have prevented the Carterton disaster.
Allan Still, father of Alexis Still, 19, who jumped from the stricken balloon, says her death would remain in vain if politicians did not act on the recommended law changes.
His voice should ring in the politicians' ears.
- The Dominion Post
Original article can be found here: http://www.stuff.co.nz
Cameron A-210, ZK-XXF, Early Morning Balloons Ltd: http://www.taic.org.nz
No comments:
Post a Comment