The Paraparaumu and Feilding mid-air collisions both involved instructors who, because of their experience and training, should have been the most capable of the pilots to be able to recognise the potential for a mid-air collision and take avoiding action. It appears that in these cases the instructors might have been focusing more on instructing or examining the student pilots and less on ensuring the safety of their aircraft.
The Commission recommends that the Director use the appropriate forums and publications to educate and remindinforms flight instructors at all levels of the findings of this report, and in particular that their first responsibility is the safety of the aircraft they are commanding before attending to the needs of their student pilot. Further, andinstructors are reminded of their responsibility for ensuring a student pilot is informed and competent to listen for, see and avoid other aircraft before allowing them to fly solo.