Died at the controls

Colleagues of Air New Zealand pilot Ann Barbarich formed a guard of honour when her body was flown into Auckland early today.

Barbarich collapsed minutes after landing a new Dreamliner at Perth after a flight from Auckland last Sunday. She died several days later

Her family accompanied her on the flight from Perth, as did the three other pilots who were on the flight deck with her when she became ill, the airline said.

Barbarich was initially attended by two doctors on board, then taken to the Royal Perth Hospital and died on Tuesday. It is suspected she suffered a brain aneurysm.

A death notice remembered her as the "darling wife of Michael and proud mother of Bianca and Alex".

"She has left us far too early, may her spirit fly free till we meet again. Love you always," the notice said, referring to Barbarich as Captain Annie.

Husband Michael Bacher said she was "the most wonderful mother and wife you could have ever wished for".

"She really was one of the most outstanding females in the aviation industry," he told NZME.

"She touched many, many lives. She was the perfect mother and the perfect professional at the same time. It's just too early and devastating and completely unexpected."

Daughter Bianca Barbarich-Bacher told NZME her mother was the best "you could ever, ever imagine ... She was an incredible pilot and role model and a really incredible lady. She was always so bubbly and had such an incredible personality."

New Zealand Association of Women in Aviation president Sue Telford said the death was a "huge, huge loss".

Barbarich was a trailblazer into a male-dominated profession that had been "just a bit wary" about how women would fit in. "Ann was the best representative to start it off."

While most airline pilots were still men, companies nowadays were actively looking for women to take on the flying role. "She helped it out greatly."

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The association's next newsletter would be dedicated to Barbarich "and there will be quite a contingent of us up there at her funeral on Friday" - at Holy Trinity Cathedral in Parnell.

There was also likely to be something in memory of Barbarich at the association's annual rally next Queen's Birthday Weekend. "She's going to get a huge send off," Telford said.

"What a life she's had. It's a really fulfilling life and she's left a legacy, and her awesome daughter Bianca is like a mini-me."

Air NZ chief flight operations and safety officer David Morgan said Barbarich was at the controls when the full aircraft landed in Perth. It landed normally.

"Unfortunately after landing she became seriously ill.

"Another pilot took over and taxied the aircraft to the gate while the other pilots began to assist Ann."

Morgan said the aircraft was always safe and under control with four captains in the cockpit.

"Ann will be sadly missed by everyone at Air New Zealand."

"(She) was a well-known and respected long-haul pilot who had served 27 years with Air New Zealand flying domestically and internationally," he said.

She was learning how to operate the new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner.

A passenger on the flight told The West Australian the cabin and flight deck crew handled "a very difficult situation very professionally".

"There was no panic and we hardly noticed anything had happened," the passenger said.