AIR TRANSPORT OF SICK

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27683, 13 June 1955, Page 10

AIR TRANSPORT OF SICK

R.N.Z.A.F. POLICY OUTLINED “NO COMPETITION WITH CIVIL OPERATORS” (New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, June 11. The Royal New Zealand Air Force does not intend to enter the field of transporting sick and injured civilians in competition with civil operators, and will act only where no civil operator has facilities, according to the Minister of Defence (Mr T. L. Macdonald).

“Therefore, except in the case of some flights in the islands, where there are no civil services, and where an aircraft is chartered for a Government other than the New Zealand Government, no charges are made for these mercy flights,” Mr Macdonald said. “The Air Force is not licensed to carry passengers for hire or reward, and cannot make charges without being licensed.

“The Air Department’s policy is that it will carry sick and injured civilians in the interests of the patient and the responsible authorities where such carriage is recommended by a responsible medical authority, provided it is not possible to arrange carriage by a civil air operator, and the commitment does not detract from the ability of the Air Force to carry out its primary operations and training commitments.

“The sponsoring authority is normally a Government department or a hospital board. “During the year ended March 31. 1955. the R.N.Z.A.F. carried 32 civilian medical cases within New Zealand, and other flights were made in the islands,” Mr Macdonald concluded.