SNN_August 2023 Issue_web

NEW ZEALAND SPINAL TRUST 10
TOTAL FREEDOM—Barry with his two-seat Cessna 152 on the beach at Big Bay, South Westland.
Chairs. This change in vocation I am loving, and getting
to meet many wonderful people, colleagues, other service
providers and clients alike.
Were there people at Burwood who inspired you at the
start of your journey?
The Director of the Spinal Unit, Professor Alan Clarke,
was a huge inspiration and mentor for me. He was in a
wheelchair after a spinal injury in 1991. He had been a
pilot prior to his injury, and regained his private pilot’s
license with a bolt-on hand control to operate the foot
actuated rudder pedals. While in Christchurch for my first
reassessment, he took me flying in his Cessna. That was a
turning point for me in realising that regaining my wings
was possible. I wanted to emulate Prof Clarke.
He was encouraging. Prior to the flight I was a bit
apprehensive, but as soon as we were airborne the
apprehension was gone.
My biggest hurdle wasn’t the paralysis, it was the pretty
serious head injury I had suffered. I needed time to recover.
How did your head injury affect your ability to fly again?
Internationally, Aviation Authorities have a minimum
two year stand down for anyone who suffers a head injury.
However, when the two years had passed, the New
Zealand Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) ruled that because
I had been in a coma, I was above a 1 percent threshold for
the risk of epilepsy. With regards to epilepsy, I would find
out that statistically anyone on the planet could have a
seizure, head trauma or not. In my quest to fly again, I
paid for and obtained two neuro surgeons’ opinions and a
neurologist’s opinion. They concluded that after five years
the chances of me having a seizure would be negligible,
well below 1 percent. ‘Just wait a bit’ they said.
—Barry Cardno
I am proud to be a pilot. And
despite being in a wheelchair,
it is very equalising. Up there
I am not disabled.
The CAA though would not budge, as their advisor felt I
would be above the 1% threshold possibly for life. That
was pretty upsetting for me. I felt I had provided the
evidence that I was fit to fly again.
There must be a way I thought….
In 9 June 2006—which was eleven years, one month and
one day since my crash—I returned to the air as a pilot on
my own flying a microlight-certified two-seat Tecnam. This
I flew for twelve months. I went back to the CAA to query
why I was allowed to fly a two-seat microlight anywhere by
myself or with a friend, but couldn’t fly a General Aviation
certified Cessna. They finally relaxed their nonsensical
opinion based ruling and ever since I have been flying twoand
four-seat Cessnas. Freedom at last!
What is the feeling like flying a plane?
It’s immense satisfaction. I am proud to be a pilot. And
despite being in a wheelchair, it is very equalising. Up
there I am not disabled.
Nowadays I fly a four-seat Cessna as a member of a
syndicate, many of whom are airline pilots who fly the