AIR TERMINAL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 155, 2 July 1937, Page 8

AIR TERMINAL.

MANGERE EXTENSIONS DEVELOPMENT PLANS. CITY PORT NOT FEASIBLE. The suggestion that an aerodrome should be established on the Waitemata waterfront, with reclamation of Mechanics' Bay boat harbour, cannot be considered by the Auckland Harbour Board because the whole of the area will be required for the extension of wharfage accommodation. Development plans for Mangere Aerodrome—the extension of runways to a length of 1200 yards, and the shortening of the road to the city by the elimination of curves—suggest further that Mangere will be the terminal of the trans-Tasman air route. These two conclusion* were reached as the result of inquiries made this morning into the statements of Commander B. A. Blythe, chief pilot to Union Airways (New Zealand), Ltd.. that Mangere aerodrome was totally inadequate to eerve Auckland as a commercial airport. Commander Blythe. referring to his previous statement this morning, made it clear that he wae referring only to the present condition of the 'drome. Chief Pilot's Scheme. "The aerodrome will be quite a good one when it is completed," he said, "but it will still l>e 14 miles from the city." Referring to Point England aerodrome, which he had visited, he said that it

could be made into a good 'drome, though it might not be as good as Mangere when it was completed. It, too, would Iμ; six miles from the city. Commander Blythe's suggestion was that the Mechanic*' Bay boat harbour should be reclaimed and converted into a landing field. A runway of about 900 yards could be obtained in this way. He had not meant to convey the impression that the present 20 acres of reclaimed land on the waterfront could be made into an adequate landing for big passenger 'planes. He pointed out that even the runway he suggested would not be sufficient for aeroplanes of the (size that might be used on a transTasman service; and an alternative aerodrome would be needed in any case as a guard against possible fog or other bad weather. Mr. D. Holdorness. superintending engineer of the Auckland Harbour Board, disposed of the waterfront aerodrome suggestion shortly. "It could not even be considered by the board," he said, "as all that area will be required in the harbour development scheme for the extension of wharfage accommodation." Hobson Bay was available, he said, if it was wanted, but it had been discussed before and the experts had declared that its approaches made it unsuitable.

Mile Long Runways. It was learned in the course of inquiries that big plans are being considered for the development of Mangere —and the statement was made in one reliable quarter that it was practically definite that Mangere would be the 'terminal, not only of the inland" air services, but also of the trans-Tasman air route. Under consideration at the moment are plane for the extension of the aerodrome to give alternative runways of about 1200 yards length, the distance stated by Commander Blythe this morning to be required by the 'planes that would probably be used on the Tasman service. When the development scheme for Mangere was introduced in 1930 it was planned to have three alternative runways of respectively "80 yards. 740 yards and 654 yards. This work is now well under way, but considerable extensions are suggested. It is likely that the nuiway marked C-C on the aerial view of the 'drome, running past the present Union Airways hangar, will be carried right out to the main road giving a runway of about three-quarters of a mile. A similar runway may be extended past the present clubhouse.