5 September 2011
New Zealand Air Line Pilots' Association (NZALPA)
Pilots Call on Govt To Make Mahon Report Official Erebus Record
The New Zealand Air Line Pilots’ Association is calling on the Government to include Justice Mahon’s Royal Commission
report in the official international record of the events that lead to Air New Zealand flight 901’s collision with Mt
Erebus.
With the launch of Broadcaster Paul Holmes new book, “Daughters of Erebus” today, Pilots’ Association President Glen
Kenny says the official record of the investigation into the DC-10 crash on the side of Mt Erebus which killed 237
passengers and 20 crew members remains the report by then Chief Inspector of Air Accidents, Ron Chippendale.
“As far as the International Civil Aviation Organisation is concerned, The Chippendale Report, which blamed pilot error
for the crash, remains the official record of the accident investigation. We have always believed that the thorough and
detailed work of the Royal Commission, led by Justice Mahon should have been accepted and adopted by Aviation
authorities here and internationally.
It is timely now for the New Zealand Government to recall the Chippendale report from ICAO as incomplete and that the
Mahon report, with Chippendale appended, be resubmitted as New Zealand’s official report of this tragic accident.
In his book, “Verdict on Erebus” (p294), Justice Mahon said: “I could not see that the aircrew had committed any act or
omission which amounted to imprudence or lack of care, a view which is shared by every captain with whom I have
discussed the question and I reported in those terms to the New Zealand Government.”
Glen Kenny says that in the 32 years since Erebus, “this has been an issue close to our hearts”. "We believe a move by
the New Zealand Government to ensure the correct record of events sits with the International Civil Aviation
Organisation is appropriate and important.”
Members of NZALPA will be attending the official launch of “Daughters of Erebus” in Auckland this evening. ENDS
About NZALPA:
Glen Kenny is President of the NZALPA and a Boeing 767 pilot. The New Zealand Air Line Pilots’ Association is a
professional union for New Zealand pilots and air traffic controllers. Established in 1945, NZALPA is an internationally
affiliated professional trade union for New Zealand pilots and air traffic controllers. Our diverse membership includes
General Aviation and commercial pilots, flight instructors and approximately 400 of New Zealand’s air traffic
controllers in the employ of Airways NZ.
NZALPA was one of the 15 founding states of IFALPA - the International Federation of Air Line Pilots’ Associations, an
organisation founded to represent the interests of over 100,000 pilots worldwide. IFALPA membership is dispersed through
101 Member Associations who work together as the ‘global voice of pilots’.
In 1989 the Air Traffic Controllers joined NZALPA. NZALPA is now one of 130 Member Associations affiliated to the
International Federation of Air Traffic Controllers' Associations (IFATCA), which represents 50,000 air traffic
controllers worldwide.
ENDS