Post by corsair67 on Jan 22, 2008 12:29:38 GMT 12
He's very lucky not to have killed himself and his passengers! 
Pilot faces charges of breaching flight rules
The Press | Tuesday, 22 January 2008
A pilot yesterday faced charges brought by the Civil Aviation Authority that he made flights in poor weather with passengers aboard.
Nathan Dale-Emberton, 45, of Queenstown, faces two charges of careless use of an aeroplane and two of breaching visual flight rules.
The alleged offences relate to flights taken on September 27, 2005.
Dale-Emberton flew four tourists from Queenstown to Milford, and then tried to make a return journey, before being forced to turn back because of cloud.
Crown prosecutor Phil Shamy told the Queenstown District Court that Dale-Emberton made the choice to fly despite forecasts of deteriorating weather.
"The upshot was, he decided to chance it," Shamy said.
Passenger Felicity Austin, giving evidence yesterday, said she and the other passengers were hurried aboard the 8.30am flight.
"It was so rushed, we were basically being rushed on to the plane as the safety briefing was going on."
At the time she knew there were concerns about the weather but thought the pilot was primarily focused on making it to their Milford cruise in time, the court was told.
"Then we got up into the ranges. There were times we flew through the clouds," Austin said.
"We couldn't see anything. It was like being in a cotton-wool ball."
The court heard the plane landed in Milford and the four passengers left for a 45-minute cruise.
A decision was made to fly back to Queenstown, the court was told.
"When we went into the valleys it was hopeless, we couldn't see anything," Austin said.
The court heard that Dale-Emberton turned the plane back to Milford and the four passengers caught a bus to Queenstown.
The hearing continues today.
--Southland Times
Pilot faces charges of breaching flight rules
The Press | Tuesday, 22 January 2008
A pilot yesterday faced charges brought by the Civil Aviation Authority that he made flights in poor weather with passengers aboard.
Nathan Dale-Emberton, 45, of Queenstown, faces two charges of careless use of an aeroplane and two of breaching visual flight rules.
The alleged offences relate to flights taken on September 27, 2005.
Dale-Emberton flew four tourists from Queenstown to Milford, and then tried to make a return journey, before being forced to turn back because of cloud.
Crown prosecutor Phil Shamy told the Queenstown District Court that Dale-Emberton made the choice to fly despite forecasts of deteriorating weather.
"The upshot was, he decided to chance it," Shamy said.
Passenger Felicity Austin, giving evidence yesterday, said she and the other passengers were hurried aboard the 8.30am flight.
"It was so rushed, we were basically being rushed on to the plane as the safety briefing was going on."
At the time she knew there were concerns about the weather but thought the pilot was primarily focused on making it to their Milford cruise in time, the court was told.
"Then we got up into the ranges. There were times we flew through the clouds," Austin said.
"We couldn't see anything. It was like being in a cotton-wool ball."
The court heard the plane landed in Milford and the four passengers left for a 45-minute cruise.
A decision was made to fly back to Queenstown, the court was told.
"When we went into the valleys it was hopeless, we couldn't see anything," Austin said.
The court heard that Dale-Emberton turned the plane back to Milford and the four passengers caught a bus to Queenstown.
The hearing continues today.
--Southland Times
