Warbirds over Wanaka: Airshow Safety

Warbirds over Wanaka: International Airshow
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Airshow Safety

Wanaka, 27th November 2014 - Major General (retired) Des Barker had a distinguished career in the South African Air Force over 40 years, clocking up 6,500 flying hours on 45 different military types, mostly fast jets.

A world renowned expert on airshow safety, he will be speaking in Wanaka in the New Year. From South Africa, he is the author of the book ‘Zero Error Margin’. Published in 2003, the book is regarded as the bible for display pilots world-wide.

Major General Barker is being brought to Wanaka by the Civil Aviation Authority in conjunction with the Warbirds Over Wanaka Community Trust.

“New Zealand airshows such as Warbirds Over Wanaka, are world renowned events that should be undertaken at least once in each display pilot’s lifetime,” said Major General Barker.

“New Zealand’s aviation and display safety statistics are admirable but as all aviators know, one cannot sit back and rest on one’s laurels. Safety is a continuous ‘in your face’ effort to remind us all of our fickle judgement ability, particularly in the high pilot workload regime of low level display flying.”

“Getting together informally with the airshow community in New Zealand provides opportunities to ‘benchmark’ and share safety challenges. It provides an ideal opportunity to review the international airshow safety statistics and accidents of 2014” he said. Every year Major General Barker reviews all major airshow incidents which occur around the world.

“With Wanaka’s rich airshow history it is appropriate that this area was on Major General Barker’s itinerary during his New Zealand visit” says Warbirds Over Wanaka General Manager, Ed Taylor. “Safety is our number one priority and anything we can do to ensure our display pilots have the necessary skills and knowledge to enhance safety has got to be a good thing,” said Mr Taylor.

Major General Des Barker will be speaking at Edgewater Resort at 6pm on Friday, 30 January 2015. Everyone is welcome at the free talk but people are asked to email their intention to attend to Jeanette.lusty@caa.govt.nz

ENDS

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