- 9 -
this route the year around for ten years, stated that they had never been on instruments in this area, except for short periods to climb up or let down through a cloud layer. Panagra officials stated that no written instructions had been published for guidance of their pilots on flight procedure between Arequipa and Lima. According to Panagra's chief pilot, verbal flight instructions had been given to Captain Gardner. These instructions were in part: That he was to plan his trips so that he would do no en route instrument flying; that, when climbing through the overcast after take-off from Arequipa, a proper track is approximately 270° (west) toward the ocean; and, that when necessary, he could climb up or let down through a cloud layer so that the trip could be continued comfortably with safety. Even while flying on top of a cloud layer on this route, geographical fixes, such as mountain peaks to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west, are visible and therefore the flight would not be considered, in the true sense, as on instruments. There is evidence to show that Gardner was familiar with this flight procedure. According to one of Panagra's copilots, he accompanied Captain Gardner on a trip from Arequipa to Lima when somewhat similar weather conditions prevailed, and Gardner proceeded on a 290° course over the overcast; while proceeding on this. heading, the overcast build up in front of him and he changed his course to 270° west, proceeded to the ocean, and then resumed a 285° heading to Lima.
Clearance for a flight from Arequipa to Lima is apparently automatic if the weather at these two stations is above minimum. Weather reports indicate that the conditions were above minimum and clearance was justified in accordance with the operation procedure of Panagra. Company operating procedure did not require the pilot to file a written flight plan prior to departure from any station on the line. Apparently this practice had developed because of the meteorological facilities under which the line is operated. The company stated that the system of position
