Flight training review proposed

Aviation industry boss Irene King is calling for a total review of flight training in the wake of the double tragedy in Manawatu this week.

Trainee Patricia Smallman and instructor Jess Neeson were killed in the midair collision near Feilding on Monday, while the pilot of the second plane survived an emergency landing.

"I have zero tolerance for accidents and injuries in our industry," the Aviation Industry Association chief executive said at the organisation's national conference in Palmerston North this week.

"It would be indefensible to let it happen again.

"It's inexcusable not to learn from it."

Mrs King said she would be pushing for a three-way review of the flight training sector involving government, the Civil Aviation Authority and the industry.

She said her comments weren't meant to be insensitive to grieving families or critical of professional trainers.

"I feel for the families, the students, the companies ... but feelings don't bring about change.

"And I know the flight schools – they are extremely professional.

"But no one person has the answer to the questions.

"There is never just one cause of an accident. There are always systemic failures."

Mrs King said when accidents happened despite the protections that were in place, it was time to take a thorough look at how things could be done better.

It could be about systems, processes, resources and funding, and all of the parties needed to review their part to achieve ongoing improvements.

The review needed to be broader than a single air accident investigation into the latest tragedy.

"There will be a series of issues.

"We don't know what they are until we systematically look at the whole picture.'

- © Fairfax NZ News

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