Still waiting for answers about Queenstown airport incident

John Key needs to get his Transport Safety Minister Nathan Guy more involved in the safety issues surrounding Queenstown Airport, says Labour’s transport safety spokesperson Darien Fenton.

“It has been weeks since John Key said he would seek answers to the alarming incident where a Pacific Blue flight took off from Queenstown for Sydney in very marginal conditions, in near darkness. But the answers don’t seem to interest Mr Guy at all,” Darien Fenton said.

In reply to answers to written parliamentary questions, Mr Guy said it was up to the Queenstown Airport operator to decide whether runway lights would be installed and it was also up to the operator, in conjunction with aircraft operators and the air traffic services provider, to determine what navigation aids are provided. Another answer said radar was currently only available above 10,000 ft.

“These replies suggest the Minister is not looking for solutions and is sitting on his hands. “Sure, the Pacific Blue pilots have been stood down, but imagine if those marginal conditions meant an aircraft was forced to attempt an emergency landing back at Queenstown without landing lights or radar?

“The changeable weather and rugged terrain, combined with increasing numbers of international tourist flights, should send a clear message to Mr Guy that he needs to get involved and sort out Queenstown’s problems quickly.

“He has also stated the CAA will not be releasing a report of the Pacific Blue flight DJ 89 incident, which will obviously just raise more questions.

“It is weeks since the Prime Minister said he would be demanding answers about the incident at Queenstown Airport where a Pacific Blue plane flew dangerously low in dark skies, but his Minister Nathan Guy doesn’t appear to be able to give those answers” says Ms Fenton.

ENDS

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