Airline Pilots’ Association loses in court

The Herald reports:

The High Court in Wellington has backed a decision that a 90-metre safety area for an extended Wellington Airport runway is sufficient, turning down a bid by pilots who wanted a review because they didn’t regard it as long enough.

Justice Karen Clark yesterday rejected an application for judicial review of the Civil Aviation director’s decision by the New Zealand Airline Pilots’ Association saying the director didn’t make an error in law in reaching the conclusion, nor was the consultation process with the NZAPA inadequate.

The association, which represents about 2,200 pilots and air traffic controllers, sought to have the decision reviewed, claiming the 90-metre runway end safety area was too short and needed to be 240 metres.

A good decision. I’m not sure the 350 metre extension is affordable, but adding on a further 150 metres would mean it definitely wouldn’t be affordable.