Six months after an inquest into the Fox Glacier air tragedy that killed nine people - and with the coroner's findings still awaited - the industry expects restraints will become mandatory in skydive planes.
The September 2010 crash, on the afternoon of the first Canterbury earthquake, occurred shortly after takeoff from the Fox Glacier airstrip. The plane burst into flames, killing everyone on board.
The victims were found piled up in the rear of the plane, although it was debated whether that caused the crash or happened after the plane spun out of control.
In closing the inquest last September, coroner Richard McElrea said he would be calling for extra evidence, including the actual weights of all individuals on the fatal flight, and it could be several months before his official findings were released. Six months later, people are keenly awaiting his findings and recommendations.
Mark Horning, who bought Skydive NZ after the accident, said the obvious recommendation people were anticipating was that some form of seatbelt should become mandatory.
