navigation section felt obliged to conceal from officials in Wellington
the use of a flight track down McMurdo Sound that was regarded
favourably by officials at McMurdo Station and from officials at McMurdo
Station a flight track over Ross Island that was regarded favourably by
officials in Wellington.


Whiteout

In relation to the cover-up allegations that have been made against the
executive officers some reference should be made to their knowledge or
otherwise of the freak meteorological condition known as "the whiteout
phenomenon". Did they know or suspect that such a condition must have
been an explanation for what happened and yet still be determined as the
Commissioner found, to promote pilot error as the cause of the crash?

It is something that can be mentioned quite briefly. The Royal
Commission Report has made it clear the phenomenon can result in a loss
of horizon definition and depth perception and is a great hazard for
those who fly in arctic or antarctic conditions. The Commissioner found
that at the critical time "air crew had been deceived into believing
that the rising white terrain ahead was in fact quite flat and that it
extended on for many miles under the solid overcast". This danger is
something well known to those who fly regularly in those areas.
Unfortunately it is not so well known by others, and as the Commissioner
stated in paragraph 165 it was not understood by any of those involved
in this case. He said:

"So far as I understand the evidence, I do not believe that either
the airline or Civil Aviation Division ever understood the term