CRISIS FOR AERO CLUBS

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26129, 3 June 1950, Page 3

CRISIS FOR AERO CLUBS

HIGH COSTS AND EBBING PUBLIC INTEREST AUCKLAND STATEMENT “The Press” Special Service AUCKLAND. May 31. “All New Zealand aero clubs are facing a crisis to-day, a crisis so serious that some clubs will be forced to to go out of existence in the next 12 months, while others must go out of existence in the next few years,” said the newly-elected president. Mr W. C. S. Leys, in an address to the Auckland Aero Club at its annual general meeting. Mr Leys said that aero clubs were not asking for a subsidy, but they did claim that they should be put in a position to provide flying training for the youth of this country. Mr Leys said that in an approach to the Government it would be maintained that young men should receive help in paying for their flying training and that, in view of the high cost of operating Air Force stations, clubs should not be asked to train Air Training Corps pilots at an average of £3 15s an hour.

“This situation has not arisen through extravagance or through mistakes in administration, but through a web of circumstances." said Mr Leys, referring to the position of the aero clubs. The circumstances arose through the rising costs, the passing of the novelty of ioy riding ana the lack of a corresponding appreciation of the utility, speed, and efficiency of air transport in this country. Mr Leys said there was a recession in interest in the 20 or 30 age group because of aero clubs’ inability to provide aircraft in any way similar to the machines at a pilot’s disposal during the war. Also, pilots had a revulsion from an occupation so fraught with nervous tension during their period of service, and there was public antipathy to an activity so closely associated with war. Another drawback was the prohibition against importing light American aircraft suitable for aero club purposes.

No Passenger Flying Aero club policy in the past had been to provide flying training at the cheapest rates possible, and the charges were at no time equal to the cost; but the deficiency had been made un by passenger flying, which had now become a State monopoly.

“There is one question that must be answered by the Government,” said Mr Leys. “Are aero clubs worth while? We submit that they are, because of the invaluable contribution made bv airmen in saving the Empire in the battle of Britain. They are of strategic importance in an isolated country of this type in that we would have men at least partly trained to defend the country.

“The faculties of endurance, courage, and judgment were engendered in youth by flying training and clubs awaken public appreciation of the civil importance of air transport. Also, they provide air transport to districts where a commercial service is unpayable, a humanitarian service as ambulance transport, and an emergency transport service.”

Mr Leys said that the importance of aero club work was recognised by strong Government support in other countries. Tho Auckland Aero Club had been operating on the samp flying rates as the New South Wales Aero Club, which had received seven times the financial support.