Martin Dolan, Chief Commissioner of the Australian Transport Safety Board (ATSB) has told a senate inquiry into the Norfolk Island ditching investigation that he is not proud of the report.
When asked by the Senate Committee on Rural and Regional Affairs yesterday if he was proud of the report, Dolan said "I wouldn't hold this report as a benchmark. I'm not proud of this report."
The inquiry was prompted by Senator Nick Xenophon after the ATSB released its findings that basically laid blame for the ditching squarely on the shoulders of pilot Dominic James and exonerated operator Pel-Air from any responsibility in the incident. More about the accident here. No safety recommendations were made in the final report.
One senator told Dolan that he was "gobsmacked" that Pel-Air came out of the incident clean and that there "seemed to be a disproportionate amount of blame" being placed on the flight crew.
Pilot Dominic James wants the ATSB report withdrawn and has the backing of aviation experts including former CASA Assistant Chief Commissioner Mick Quinn.
CASA, the Australian and International Pilots Association and a group indentified as the Professional Aviators Investigative Network (PAIN) also gave evidence yesterday.
The inquiry has adjourned and the findings are due on 29 November, although further evidence may be heard before then.