TASMAN AIR SERVICES

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27407, 21 July 1954, Page 12

TASMAN AIR SERVICES

PROPOSED USE OF OHAKEA MR NASH IN FAVOUR (New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, July 20. The use of Ohakea airport as an international air terminal serving Wellington and intermediate areas is favoured by the Leader of the Opposition (Mr Nash). He' also favours at the same time the speedy developing of Rongotai. “On the present available evidence, it does appear that Ohakea is the nearest place to Wellington that complies with the international rules affecting DC-6 aircraft or others of similar type,” said Mr Nash today. “Its utilisation appears to be warranted in existing circumstances. “Not only would Ohakea serve Wellington as such, but it would serve all places between Wellington and the airfield,” he said. “It would be much nearer to other important provincial areas in Taranaki and the King Country than any other recognised departure point. “My own personal view would, of course, have been to provide an airfield even qearer to Wellington, as the nation’s capital,” said Mr Nash. Mr Nash said his statement was not in any way opposed to the development of air transport thr.t could be accommodated at either Christchurch or Auckland, or to the fullest possible development of Rongotai airport. “Without my commenting on the technique of jet aircraft, and the facilities required for them, it should be considered that Whenuapai is also a field attached to the Royal New Zealand Air Force,” he said. “It would seem that there should be no insuperable difficulty in Air Force and civilian services working together as harmoniously at Ohakea.”

CONFERENCES ON PROPOSAL INTERESTED PARTIES “ UNANIMOUS ” MR MACALISTER ASKS QUESTIONS (New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, July 20. The Mayor of Wellington (Mr R. L. Macalister) says he believes that all the organisations directly interested have assented to the use of Ohakea aerodrome as a trans-Tasman terminus, and he asks who has advised the Government not to grant Tasman Empire Airways’ request for permission to use it. “In the light of the combined, unanswered, unanimous views of the civil aviation and T.E.A.L. experts, the National Airways Corporation and the Customs and Agriculture Departments in favour of the use of Ohakea, who is the adviser to the contrary?” Mr Macalister said today. “What are his qualifications, and what are his reasons for refusing the request of T.E.A.L.? These are the questions that everyone studying the position will be asking himself, and they certainly require a public answer.” He had been informed, he said, that a conference among representatives of T.E.A.L., N.A.C., and the Royal New Zealand Air Force was held in the office of the Deputy Chief of the Air Staff six weeks ago, when the operational problems associated with T.E.A.L.’s use of Ohakea were discussed in detail and resolved on a basis acceptable to all. Later, a meeting was held at Ohakea, when Customs and Agriculture Department representatives also were present, he Said. Again, agreement was reached as to the practical measures required to meet the needs of the several interests. Yet more discussions took place in Australia with aviation authorities in that country, again with satisfactory results. The request by T.E.A.L. could certainly not have been made with any parochial motives, for the company was half. Australian and half New Zealand.

MOVE “WRONG”' NEW PLYMOUTH AIRPORT BOARD’S VIEWS (New Zealand Press Associate, i NEW PLYMOUTH, July 20. The proposal to use Ohakea as an international civil airport seemed wrong in principle, said the chairman of the New Plymouth Airport Board (Mr P. E. Sainton) last night. “The application by Tasman Empire Airways, Ltd., for permission to use Ohakea as an international commercial airport must raise the question whether there has been a lack of vision in the planning of commercial airports,” he continued. “Ohakea is fundamentally a defence air station, and its use in that capacity must take priority.” It was never intended to be used as a joint defence and civil aerodrome, and it seemed a matter of urgency that a suitable alternative to Ohakea should be selected after all relevant factors had been taken into consideration. In any objective analysis of the problem the suitability of the New Plymouth airport for the purpose under discussion could not properly be overlooked, he said. Its geographical situation in relation to the population of the North Island, its strategic location as an alternative when both Ohakea and Whenuapai were unworkable, its adequate size for all purposes, considering the availability of adjoining land free from buildings, and its comparative freedom from fog, were all factors yf considerable significance.

Use Of Vulcan Plane Suggested CIVIL VERSION OF JET BOMBER "The Press’* Special. Service WELLINGTON, July 20. Introduction of the Vulcan—a deltawing four-engine jet aircraft—to the services of Tasman Empire Airways is one of the aims of Mr J. A. R. Kay,

sales director of the A. V. Roe and Company and travelling representative of the Hawker-Siddeley Aircraft Group, in visiting New Zealand. The Vulcan is in production as a heavy bomber for the Royal Air Force. Mr Kay says that, if an order were placed for it, a civil version could be in operation by 1959. It would carry 150 passengers. Mr-Kay has been in Wellington for four days. He has had long talks with the Minister of Civil Aviation (Mr T. L. Macdonald) and the Chief of the Air Staff (Air Vice-Marshal W. H. Merton) about various aircraft at present in the drawing-board stage. “Of course, the whole thing is secret, and I could only show some photographs and drawings. But I can say that some very serious interest is being shown in them,” said Mr Kay. During his visit, Mr Kay presented the No. 75 Squadron Association with paintings of its Lancaster bombers in action over Germany.