Executive summary
On Friday 8 May 1998 Air Nelson Metro ZK-NSJ, Airlink (RLK) 8611, was being operated on a scheduled service at night from Hokitika to Christchurch when the incident occurred. Unforecast fog occurred at the destination and alternate aerodromes. The aircraft made four ILS approaches before being able to land at the destination. No alternative course of action remained available to the crew at that stage because of the low amount of fuel remaining.
Safety issues identified are:
• the procedure for crews to release company agents from departure aerodromes
• the availability of current weather information from company agents at Timaru and Hokitika
• the CAA action to amend Rules to allow category 1 ILS minima to become normal
• the need for pilots to weigh and interpret weather information and not just take issued forecasts at face value.
Three safety recommendations were made to address these issues.
Related Recommendations
Ensures, when an aerodrome such as Timaru or Hokitika is being used as a destination or alternative, that current weather and other operational information on the aerodrome is available to the crew throughout the flight, by the company agent either passing the information to ATC, or ensuring radio communications are available with the aircraft.
Adopts and promulgates to crews a procedure that, where the release of a company agent after departure would preclude the use of the departure aerodrome for the return of the aircraft, this action is not taken until current weather and other operational information on the destination and alternate aerodromes has been received by the crew.
Promulgates to operators the availability of the lower ILS minima intended and generally implemented by the rulemaking process, advising action to amend ILS approach charts, and what steps air transport operators may take to obtain approval to use lower minima prior to obtaining recertification under rule part 19.