(This is touch typed from today's paper)
A councillor who fell asleep for up to 20 mminiutes while flying his plane to Sydney has blamed fatigue, illness - and listening to country music on the radio.
Port Macquarie business-man and councillor Michael Cusato has been grounded after it was revealed he was snoozing while flying his Cessna 210 plane to Bankstwon airport in September.
An Australian Transport Safety Bureau report found Mr Cusato switched his plane to auto-pilot and was listening to country and western music when he dozed off.
The report also revealed the councillor and businessman failed to respond to several calls from air traffic controllers in both Brisbane and Sydney sa he cruised through Williamtown, near Newcastle, airspace at 8500 feet.
About 20 minutes latre the plane had begun a "spiral descent" near Brookly Bridge without clearance and several thousand feel highter than he should have been.
Mr Cusato said last night he was suffering from the fly and was very fatigued".
"It was one of those afternoons where conditions were calm and fatigue took over".
Yeah, right.