Criticised civil aviation boss to quit

John Jones

Under-fire Civil Aviation director John Jones announced today he will retire from the position in November.

His resignation comes three months after the authority was singled out in a damning coroner's report on the crash of an Air Adventures Piper Navajo Chieftain in June 2003.

That crash, near Christchurch, killed pilot Michael Bannerman and seven Crop and Food Research staff.

Christchurch coroner Richard McElrea made 30 recommendations in regard to the Air Adventures crash.

Mr Jones said he was likely to get expert aviation consultants to help implement them, but defended his performance and refused to resign.

"A few hiccups" in the system didn't warrant a major overhaul of the authority and its staff, he said.

"I'm not intending to resign. My contract is open-ended, which means I stay until I'm ready to go or they terminate it," he said three months ago.

At the time, authority chairman Ron Tannock refused to express confidence in Mr Jones, saying it was an "employment matter" and could not be discussed.

Asked if that meant there were "employment issues" relating to Mr Jones, Mr Tannock refused to comment.

Mr Jones has been director since October 2001.

He has managed the implementation of a new regulatory regime.

Mr Jones said he would work for the authority until March 2007 to ensure a smooth handover to the new director.

It would also allow him to advise on the completion of a series of strategically important projects he was involved with.

In his term the aviation industry had achieved an over 50 per cent reduction in the "social cost" of air accidents, he said.

"We have just completed a five-year safety plan period and set new targets for the next five year period," he said.

"Solid progress has been made."

"The industry now has its sights set on new safety and sustainability targets for 2010, so it is timely for me to hand over to a new director who will see them achieved."

He thanked the aviation community and the authority team for lifting safety standards "so significantly" over the last five years.

- NZPA