Air Traffic Increase Seen As "Grim Problem”

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28399, 4 October 1957, Page 20

Air Traffic Increase Seen As "Grim Problem”

(New Zealand Press. Association)

AUCKLAND, October 3. Air transport operators overseas faced "a grim problem'’ in handling traffic forecast for the 1960'5, said Sir Leonard Isitt. chairman of Tasman Empire Airways, when he returned from a six-months world business tour. A booming aircraft industry, he said, wa> already meeting “hopelessly inadequate” provision of airports and buildings. Airports laid down even in the last five years could not handle today's traffic. Take-off delays and congestion often amounted to 20 per cent, or more of flight time. Terminal buildings were too small, and made for inefficiency, frustration and unnecessary delay. Manufacturers were producing aircraft with almost double the speed and capacity of the average aircraft today. "Today there are two very definite schools of though and the big question for the 1960’s is whether the operator will favour the turbo-propeller or the straight jet,” he said. At Vickers-Armstrong, where he saw Viscounts being built for National Airways Corporation, he also saw the Vanguard, “which is of interest to T.E.A.L. if it is decided the turbo-propeller type is the right aircraft for T.E.A.L. routes.”

Two United Kingdom aircraft which might be suitable for N.A.C. subsidiary routes were the Accountant and the Herald, but production progress was slow and the Fokker Friendship, in which he flew, was a great deal further forward. “It has much to commend it,” he said. He also looked at the Lockheed Electra, the BC-8, the Convair 880. and the Boeing 707 and 717 straight jet series. “But we must wait until performance and eco-

ijomics of these planes are cheeked against T.E.A.L. routes.” he said. Sir Leonard Isitt returned on a T.E.A.L. plane, which landed 30 minutes late.