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Pacific Blue

QueenstownOctober 23

Decision on pilot's future not until next year

A decision over the future career of the Pacific Blue pilot charged with flying a Boeing 737 carelessly will not be made until next year, two years and six months after the incident.
QueenstownSeptember 2

Dusk flight case up in the air

A four-week hearing on a Pacific Blue pilot's actions when he flew out of Queenstown Airport in 2010 resumes on Monday in the Queenstown District Court. Queenstown reporter Olivia Caldwell summarises the case so far.
Dusk flight case up in the air
Dusk flight case up in the air
QueenstownJuly 12

Summing up as flight case adjourned

The defence for a Pacific Blue pilot charged with the careless use of a Boeing 737 denies the pilot devised his own emergency contingency plan for leaving Queenstown Airport two years ago, as the case was adjourned yesterday.
QueenstownJuly 11

Decision 'correct': witness

A retired Air New Zealand pilot backs the reasoning and the decision of a Pacific Blue pilot to depart Queenstown Airport in a Boeing 737 in challenging conditions two years ago.
QueenstownJuly 10

Pilot competent: witness testimony

An expert witness says he would have let his daughter fly in an aircraft captained by a Pacific Blue pilot charged two years ago with careless use of an aircraft.
QueenstownJuly 9

Queenstown 737 takeoff 'typical industry practice'

An experienced Air New Zealand pilot yesterday described the actions of a Pacific Blue pilot charged with operating a Boeing 737 carelessly when flying out of Queenstown Airport two years ago, as "typical industry practice".
QueenstownJuly 8

Mix of evidence given in Pacific Blue case

The Pacific Blue pilot charged with careless use of an aircraft appears in Queenstown District Court for the third week today.
QueenstownJuly 6

Plane's first officer 'felt unease'

The first officer who flew with the Pacific Blue pilot charged with careless use of an aircraft in June 2010 admits he felt unease during the flight's departure from Queenstown Airport.
QueenstownJuly 6

Pilot disagreed with tower's weather call

The Pacific Blue pilot charged with carelessly operating a Boeing 737 two years ago told the Queenstown District Court yesterday he disagreed with weather information supplied to him by Queenstown air traffic controllers, but denied taking a "he knew best" attitude.
QueenstownJuly 3

Pilot cites his experience

A Pacific Blue pilot charged with operating a Boeing 737 carelessly two years ago had extensive experience in icy, clouded and night conditions, he told the Queenstown District Court yesterday.
QueenstownJuly 2

Pilot's decision-making was 'flawed'

Civil Aviation Authority general airline manager Captain Mark Hughes has described as flawed the decision-making of a Pacific Blue airline pilot who flew out of Queenstown Airport in marginal weather conditions two years ago.
Pilot's decision-making was 'flawed'
Pilot's decision-making was 'flawed'
QueenstownMarch 21

'Don't sink' alarm sounded as plane left Queenstown

An automatic warning, "Don't sink, don't sink", sounded in the cockpit as Pacific Blue Flight 89 took off from Queenstown Airport on June 22, 2010, the Queenstown District Court heard yesterday.
QueenstownMarch 14

Expert witnesses disagree over anti-ice procedure

A disagreement between three expert witnesses on whether anti-icing procedures should have been carried out dominated court proceedings yesterday in Queenstown in the prosecution of a pilot charged with operating his Pacific Blue Boeing 737 jet carelessly.
QueenstownMarch 10

Airport staff shocked plane took off

Thirty seconds after Pacific Blue flight 89 took off from Queenstown, a Fire Rescue Service member called the control tower, remarking "how big are his gonads?"
QueenstownMarch 9

No 'unacceptable' risk found

Pacific Blue's internal investigation into flight 89 from Queenstown to Sydney in June 2010 concluded there was "no evidence" passengers were exposed to an "unacceptable level of risk", Judge Kevin Phillips heard yesterday.
QueenstownMarch 8

'We're going to give it a go', passengers told

After a wait of about 40 minutes, passengers on Pacific Blue flight 89 from Queenstown to Sydney in June 2010 were told moments before take-off, in an in-flight announcement, words akin to "We're going to give it a go", the Queenstown District Court was told yesterday.
'We're going to give it a go', passengers told
'We're going to give it a go', passengers told
QueenstownApril 29

Charges laid over take-off

The Civil Aviation Authority has laid charges of "unnecessary endangerment" following a Pacific Blue flight from Queenstown to Sydney last year.
DunedinDecember 5

Watchdog to rule soon on airlines' plan

An Australian consumer watchdog is expected to release its decision on the proposed alliance between Air New Zealand and Pacific Blue by the end of the year.
QueenstownAugust 29

Probe into Pacific Blue flight

Pacific Blue says the pilots of a plane that may have breached flight rules when taking off from Queenstown airport have been stood down.
DunedinMay 17

New Brisbane flight from Pacific Blue

Dunedin International Airport has been given a boost by the confirmation Pacific Blue will add another direct flight to Brisbane later this year.
New Brisbane flight from Pacific Blue
New Brisbane flight from Pacific Blue
EditorialMay 5

Turbulent skies

The dynamics of the airline industry regularly change as competitors search for profits, thus affecting services and airports.
NationalMarch 11

Air NZ mercy mission saves man's life

A Gisborne man who was left without essential medication when his luggage went missing on a Pacific Blue flight to Rarotonga says he owes his life to rival airline Air New Zealand.