CESSNA LOADS RESTRICTED

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27675, 3 June 1955, Page 11

CESSNA LOADS RESTRICTED

GROUNDING REPORT DENIED STATEMENT BY DIRECTOR OF CIVIL AVIATION (New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, June 1. The Cessna topdressing fleet was never grounded, said Mr E. A. Gibson. Director of Civil Aviation, in a telephone interview today. He was commenting on a Press Association message from Wellington which said that the fleet had been grounded. Mr Gibson said he had explained, but apparently was misunderstood, that he had askea for an inspection of Cessna undercarriages to be made in the light of recent failures. Mr Gibson said that in the meantime Cessnas—more than 40 of them engaged in aerial topdressing throughout New Zealand —were restricted to their normal passenger weight of 27001 b. He had allowed the topdressers to fly at something like 30201 b. He expected that the American manufacturers would give the answer on an amended undercarriage in the next week or 10 days ;