Media Statement For immediate use

Helicopter operators must cooperate with NVG inquiry

2 September 2007

The Chairman of the Air Rescue-Air Ambulance Division of the Aviation Industry Association (AIA) is urging all helicopter operators who have purchased night vision goggles in New Zealand to cooperate fully and immediately with a Civil Aviation inquiry.

Rea Wikaira said it is hugely concerning to hear that some of the goggles which have come into New Zealand may not be bona fide.

“The authorities in the United States took a great deal of convincing to let us have these goggles in the first place as they are classified military hardware,” Mr Wikaira said.

“A huge amount of work has been done by a number of rescue helicopter trusts and the Civil Aviation Authority, with assistance from the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet and ACC, to get these goggles into services on rescue helicopters in New Zealand.

“It is totally unacceptable to have this hard work put at risk by people who have not followed the rules,” he said.

Mr Wikaira said it may well be that people purchased the goggles in question in good faith, but all the same they need to get in touch with CAA immediately to help the department get the issue resolved as quickly as possible.

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