CAA set for new faces at top

The organisation overseeing aviation in New Zealand is set for a clean sweep of its senior positions.

Yesterday Civil Aviation Authority chairman Ron Tannock confirmed he had resigned, and his deputy, Hazel Armstrong, confirmed she would not be seeking a third term on the authority.

On Monday CAA director John Jones made public his decision to retire in November.

The CAA has been the subject of several critical Audit Office reports. Calls for leading figures in the CAA to resign heightened in May after Christchurch coroner Richard McElrea released his findings into the 2003 Air Adventures crash, several of which were critical of the authority.

Mr Tannock yesterday said it would be unfair to say his resignation was a reaction to the coroner's findings as he had not been chairman of the CAA when the plane crashed, killing eight.

However, he did say there was a direct link between the crash and his and Mr Jones' departures.

"The direct link is that we need a new chairman to launch and manage the replacement process for the director, because it is a challenging job and getting the right man won't be easy, so there is a link, if you like."