KEVIN HUMPHREYS,
Sir, - I note with thanks the corrections in your edition of July 16th about the origin of the report of the fatal helicopter crash in Longford in 1999, which was incorrectly attributed to the Irish Aviation Authority rather than the Air Accident Investigation Unit of the Department of Transport.
This, however, is but one of many errors in the article on the report in your edition of July 13th. For example:
1. The accident occurred in August 1999 not March 1999.
2. Air accident reports do not name or identify the pilots involved.
3. The findings did not state the pilot may have been engaged in the "very high risk" activity of aerial photography during the accident flight.
4. The findings did not state that the pilot had only about 10 per cent of the flying experience recommended for commercial flying.
For the sake of accuracy I would request your readers to read the original report which is available on our website www.aaiu.ie or to apply to the address below for a hard copy. - Yours, etc.,
KEVIN HUMPHREYS, Chief Inspector of Air Accidents, Department of Transport, Clare Street, Dublin 2.
Jim Cusack writes: Point 4 above relates to an appendix to the report from the helicopter manufacturer.