Pilot's decisions 'typical industry practice'

File Photo / Glenn Jeffrey

An experienced Air New Zealand pilot says the Pacific Blue pilot charged with operating a Boeing 737 carelessly when leaving Queenstown did not break the rules.

Captain Stuart Julian, who has more than 13,000 hours flying experience, told the Queenstown District Court today decisions made by the 54-year-old Auckland pilot, who has name suppression, were "well made".

"I do not consider any decision unreasonable."

The pilot took off for Sydney at 5.25pm on June 22, 2010 - after the Pacific Blue evening Civil Twilight time of 5.14pm.

The flight was scheduled to leave Queenstown at 4.30pm, but the pilot had received news of a front passing through.

The Civil Aviation Authority claims the pilot operated the aircraft carelessly based on issues surrounding crosswind, cloud altitude, departure time and lighting.

Captain Julian told the court the rules surrounding these matters were not broken by the pilot and the decisions made by the pilot were "typical industry practice".

This included the pilot's use of windsocks as a measure for crosswinds.

He said the windsocks near the runway provided an accurate measure, and unlike wind reports from the control tower, were not exposed to transmission or technical delays.

The pilot had disagreed with the tower's reading of winds of up to 19 knots before take-off and assessed crosswind levels to be well under 16 knots.

In common with the pilot in question, Captain Julian did not see the necessity to apply an anti-ice increment to the wings of the aircraft.

Captain Julian has given evidence in three aviation accidents.