The Post

Hood Aerodrome safety culture ‘was deficient’

- Emily Ireland Local democracy reporter

‘‘I think if Craig was still alive, his thoughts would be that he doesn’t ever want to see anything like this happen again.’’

These were the words of Masterton councillor David Holmes, a friend of pilot Craig McBride who died in a midair collision involving two planes in June 2019 near Masterton’s Hood Aerodrome. The other pilot

– Joshua Christense­n – also died.

Holmes’ sentiment was shared at this week’s Masterton District Council audit and risk committee meeting, where the findings of the Transport Accident Investigat­ion Commission’s inquiry were discussed. The inquiry found one pilot was flying a non-standard and non-compliant join to the circuit, and this was how they had been instructed to join. The non-standard join had become accepted practice at the aerodrome. The inquiry also found noncertifi­cated aerodromes – like Hood Aerodrome – and aerodrome managers did not have the same level of regulatory oversight and support as certificat­ed aerodromes.

Hood Aerodrome is owned and managed by Masterton District Council.

Holmes said McBride would never want to see anything like the incident happen again. ‘‘In the report, this sums it up: The passive acceptance of the non-compliant behaviour, the absence of proactive safety reporting, and the resistance to adopting an aerodrome [safety management system] indicate that the safety culture of Masterton was deficient.’’

Councillor Craig Bowyer, who is a pilot and is on the Hood Aerodrome strategic advisory group, said the crash was possibly the outcome of ‘‘behaviour creep’’ where over time, unofficial behaviours become normalised. ‘‘I think we can rest assured that the report and findings have hit home and have changed behaviours,’’ he said.

Councillor Tom Hullena, who knew both pilots, noted that aerodrome users now had ‘‘a greater awareness and understand­ing of the appropriat­e patterns in the air’’. He asked what the council’s responsibi­lity was in influencin­g aerodrome safety culture.

Masterton council community facilities and activities manager Corin Haines said he believed the council’s responsibi­lity was ‘‘huge’’. ‘‘We need to continue to drive that safety culture, and implementi­ng a safety management system is part of that ... We will continue to drive and roll that out.’’

A draft safety management system manual has been completed and is awaiting the council’s approval. A court case is ongoing over the plane crash.

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