MODIFICATIONS TO TEAL DC-6’S

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27666, 24 May 1955, Page 8

MODIFICATIONS TO TEAL DC-6’S

RECOMMENDATIONS OF U.S. MAKERS Safety modifications recommended by the Douglas Aircraft Company and ordered by the Australian Civil Aviation Department and the American Civil Aviation Board will probably be carried out on the DC-6 airliners operated by Tasman Empire Airways during 1956-57. Confirming a report in a Sydney newspaper that the modifications would be made, the general manager of T.E.A.L. (Mr G. N. Roberts) said that the modifications became necessary around the 20,000-hour mark for each aircraft. T.E.A.L.’s DC-6’s will reach their 20,000 hour check about the second half of 1956.

The modifications include reskinning of the centre-section bottom of outer plane joints, detailed alteration to spar joints, and strengthening of spar caps. Aircraft of this type' operated by Australian National Airways will be modified from June onwards. The order applies only to DC-6's and. not to the DC-6B’s now in use by A.N.A.

The DC-6 fleets of T.E.A.L. and A.N.A. were both bought second-hand. Those operated by T.E.A.L ' were flown many thousands of miles by British Commonwealth Pacific Airlines on routes from Sydney and Auckland to Vancouver and San Francisco The four aircraft originally owned by B.C.P.A. were acquired from S.A.S. (Scandinavian Airlines System), the airline which pioneered the trans-Polar route from America to Europe.