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Wreckage from the Erebus crash - Source: ONE News -
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Air New Zealand has announced it will proceed with a proposal to take five relatives of those lost in the Erebus tragedy to Antarctica for the 30th anniversary on November 28 this year.
Consultation over the proposal put to families of those lost concluded last week and the overwhelming majority of feedback from those who chose to participate was supportive of representatives attending services at Erebus and Scott Base.
There was also support for the opportunity for families to leave messages in a capsule adjacent to the memorial cross at Mt Erebus.
There had been some disappointment that only five relatives of the 257 victims would end up going to the site. Air New Zealand has previously said it is impractical to take more.
Air New Zealand flight TE 901 crashed into Mt Erebus in Antarctica on November 28, 1979, killing all 237 passengers and 20 crewmembers aboard.
No victims' families have visited the crash site despite their requests and despite the fact politicians and their partners, poets and artists have all made the trip.
Families said they would like to see a few next-of-kin offered the chance to go every year.
But Air New Zealand says it cannot take a representative from each family as "it's not practically or logistically possible given the remoteness of the Erebus memorial site and the limited opportunity to co-ordinate the visit, with helicopter support".
Air New Zealand communicated the outcome of the consultation process to the families who chose to take part over the past three days and has begun the process of formally applying to the government for access to the memorial cross at Mt Erebus.
The composition of the five family representatives going to Antarctica will be three representing the families of customers and one each representing the cabin crew and flight crew.
Also travelling to Antarctica will be Reverend Peter Beck from Christchurch Cathedral to officiate the services, a representative of the government, Air New Zealand General Manager Airline Operations and Chief Pilot Captain David Morgan and two representatives of TVNZ to broadcast and document on video the event ceremonies so they can be shared with the families of all those lost on Erebus.
Air New Zealand will also hold services in Auckland and Christchurch to mark both the 30th anniversary of Erebus and the first anniversary of the A320 accident in Perpignan off the coast of France on November 28.
An Erebus anniversary service also will be held at the memorial garden at Waikumete Cemetery in Auckland.
Air New Zealand is asking families who would like to have a message for a loved one left at Antarctica to submit it to either of the following address options by Thursday, November 12, 2009:
Erebus Messages,
Air New Zealand,
Private Bag 92007,
Auckland 1142,
New Zealand
Or
erebus@airnz.co.nz
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