Safety in microlight sector needs to improve in NZ

Shaun Sutherland hopes his "Aero Club in a Box" safety program will save lives. PHOTO/ John Stone

Whangarei pilot Shaun Sutherland hopes a new safety system he has created will save lives and improve flight safety for New Zealand's microlight sector.

The pilot with nearly 30 years' flying experience reckons flight safety in the recreational and microlight flying world is "not where it should be", resulting in the sector being over represented in plane crash statistics.

He has been awarded the 2018 Jilly Murphy Memorial Scholarship for aviation safety and will use the $5000 to gain further Health and Safety training plus help launch his "Aero Club in a Box" safety programme which will be free to microlight organisations nationally.

"It's about improving safety so less people are killed and making it safer for everyone."

In his experience, many microlight organisations operate without safety management systems, formalised procedures or a training syllabus for their students.

The Aero Club In a Box concept – is a set of templates of fully compliant safety management system and student training syllabus and tools clubs need to easily implement the safety systems they need.

Mr Sutherland said the cost and a lack of resource means many microlight clubs were are operating without proper safety management and training systems.

"Not having robust safety systems in place is putting operators at risk," he said.

"As microlight flying is fast becoming the first choice for recreational flyers, it's imperative that clubs and their members are operating within acceptable industry standards."

There were various types of microlight aircraft. Class 1 microlights are the more traditional types built early on in New Zealand and Class 2 microlights are small planes weighing less than 600kgs.

He said the current safety record of microlights in New Zealand was "completely unacceptable".

"We need to get systems in place in our clubs to make sure we bring people home safely."

Mr Sutherland, who runs the Sports Flying Academy based at Whangarei Airport, said expressions of interest for the Aero Club in a Box were being taken through the website www.sportsflyingacademy.co Every year Airways and Christchurch Airport offer the scholarship to a person or project that is helping to improve aviation safety in New Zealand.

The diverse range of applications received this year reflect the innovative work that is happening throughout the industry, Airways GM Air Traffic Services Tim Boyle said.

The Jilly Murphy Memorial scholarship was established jointly by Christchurch Airport and Airways in 2013 to honour Christchurch Airport-based air traffic controller Jilly Murphy, who died in central Christchurch during the earthquake on February 22, 2011.

Ms Murphy worked for Airways for 20 years as a highly skilled controller, with a passion for aviation safety.