RONGOTAI TO BE CLOSED

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25276, 30 August 1947, Page 8

RONGOTAI TO BE CLOSED

Commercial Airport At Paraparaumu AIR SAFETY MEASURE

From Our Own Reporter WELLINGTOW, August 29. Rongotai aerodrome will be closed to all commercial traffic as from September 27. This action is being taken by the Government as a safety measure. When the aerodrome is closed commercial services will be continued from Paraparaumu. A modified scheme for the extension of Rongotai airport has been submitted to the Government by the engineer to the Wellington City Council (Mr K. Luke). This scheme, which involves a minimum of interference with existing interests, is now being examined. If the scheme is approved it will form part of the ultimate development of the aerodrome. Commercial aircraft using Rongotai before the war were comparatively few, and it was practicable to ensure the highest degree of control and exclusive selection of personnel, said the Minister of Civil Aviation (Mr F. Jones) to-day. Since the war, however, commercial air traffic had increased enormously, and was still increasing. and higher standards of safety had now been laid down internationally. New Zealand had become a party to the international convention relating to aviation, and the Government wanted international standards of safety applied as soon as possible. “Rongotai in its present state of development does not comply with these standards,” said Mr Jones. “In 1938 the Government appointed a special commission of inquiry to report on the best possible airport for Wellington. Since then the position has been reviewed by other committees, and there is general agreement that there are only two possible sites —Rongotai and Paraparaumu. Rongotai has many advantages, but its lull development involves the provision of an unobstructed runway from Evans Bay to Lyall Bay, and interference with residential areas and Rongotai College.” Mr Jones said that full development of Rongotai airport could not be faced at present. The general manager of the National Airways Corporation (Mr F. Maurice Clarke) would not comment to-day on the steps to be taken by the corporation on the transfer from Rongotai to Paraparaumu. “Full information concerning the future activities of the corporation wjll be given by the chairman (Sir Leonard Isitt) within a few days,? he said. Increased Travelling Time The transfer of the Wellington airport to Paraparaumu, which is 35 miles from Wellington, will mean increased travelling time for passengers flying from Christchurch to Wellington in Lodestars which land at Rongotai. The extra distance to be travelled by motor transport will probably result in increased passenger fares, especially in the short flight service between Wellington and Blenheim and Nelson. The present facilities for passenger traffic at Paraparaumu are poor, while hangar storage for aircraft used on commercial passenger services does not exist. The Minister’s statement referred only to commercial traffic, and it is presumed that the Wellington Aero Club, which uses smaller types of aircraft, will continue its activities at Rongotai.