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More than 80 students will perform in specially written show “Who’s Afraid of Helvetia House” tonight. “It’s always a highlight for us to watch the kids showcase themselves and the skills we’ve been working on all year,” director John Schwarz said. Half of the Aspiring Children’s Theatre School cast was pictured at the dress rehearsal yesterday.
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Wanaka flights cut page 3 PHOTO: wanaka.tv
All Cardrona to celebrate
Recent fatality hits home Skydiver Antonino “loved living and working here”
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Staff at Skydive Lake Wanaka are working hard to come to terms with their first fatality since starting operations 17 years ago, and they may have to wait up to a year before the Civil Aviation Authority release its report of the incident. Italian Antonino Arillotta, 38, is reported to have died on impact when both his main chute and reserve chute failed to function correctly while he was filming a tandem skydive for the company as a solo skydiver last Thursday. “The Skydive Wanaka team and Nino’s family are devastated. Nino spoke to his sister the day before the tragedy and told her how much he loved living and working here,” company co-director Jools Hall said in an email.
She said Antonino had been using his own equipment which he maintained and packed himself. “He was an extremely experienced skydiver of 4000 skydives who had worked around the world in many locations, he had
crash other than that weather was not an issue. “There was no issue with the wind conditions. Weather conditions were not a contributing factor in the tragedy,” she said.
He was an extremely experienced skydiver of 4000 skydives who had worked around the world in many locations. just come from working in the USA - with impeccable references. He had also worked in Fiji and Italy.” Jools said Antonino had been with the company for six weeks and until the CAA completes its report, they would be unable make any statement about the possible causes of the
The company chose to cease operations for two days after the incident and resumed on Sunday. The CAA has completed its initial field investigation and its interviews in Wanaka. Items of equipment relating to the accident are in the process of being returned to Wellington
for closer examination and testing, communications manager Mike Richards said. An official report could take from six months to a year before it is released. “At this stage it is premature to suggest any early conclusions until all aspects of the accident are fully examined,” he said. In a statement released just after the incident the CAA also said: “We understand that Skydive Lake Wanaka has voluntarily suspended its operations. This is not required by the CAA, however it is a respectful action and also allows staff and locals time to come to terms with what has happened. The operator who employed Mr Arillotta, Skydive Lake Wanaka, is certificated by the CAA under the new Part 115 Adventure Aviation rule. The operator is considered to be a very professional company.”