Pilot Risks Passenger’s Lives

A Tauranga, New Zealand pilot admitted to putting lives at stake by flying five times when the Civil Aviation Authority told him not to, performing maintenance work on the aircraft when he did not hold a current license (also without supervision from someone who was licensed) and by altering the aircraft’s records. Paul Ensor, owner of Island Air Charters, lost power on a twin-engine aircraft this year and was forced to crash land. Ensor was suspended from flying after this forced landing and his company’s air operating certificate was suspended pending CAA investigation. Ensor faces 15 breaches of CAA regulations and can receive a maximum penalty of 12 months in jail or may incur large fines.