Editorial: Aero club suffers huge tragedy

A police photographer at the scene of the plane crash. Photo/Paul Taylor

When people with a common interest get together it is not long before a deep bond and friendship develops.

Wherever you go around the world, you are always sure to find some sort of club or other with people who are passionate about a hobby or sport, spending hours doing what they love most.

It takes a special type of person who wants to be a pilot and there must be something quite liberating about taking off into the blue yonder. It is no wonder that aero clubs are full of people who live for flying.

Our local aero club, the Hawke's Bay and East Coast Aero Club, suffered a tragedy at the weekend when one of their members, Chris Rawlings, 48, of Clive, and British pilot Christopher Howell, 46, were killed in a plane crash near Hastings.

It must be very difficult for such a close-knit group of people to lose one of their own. It would be like losing a family member.

Another sad part of this story is that Mr Howell had approached the club the day before to "brush up" on his skills as he was hoping to get a job with a commercial airline.

While they did not know him, the experienced pilot would have been instantly accepted as one of them.

The Civil Aviation Authority is investigating the accident, so one would not like to speculate too much. I am sure the cause will come out eventually and hopefully the families of the two men will be able to get some closure.

However, at the moment the friends and families will be grieving and we offer them our condolences for their loss.