“No Political Pressure” In Replacing Of N.A.C. Planes

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28866, 10 April 1959, Page 10

“No Political Pressure” In Replacing Of N.A.C. Planes

No political pressure was being used to induce the National Airways Corporation to buy British planes to replace its present Douglas passenger aircraft, said the corporation’s chairman (Sir Leonard Isitt) in Christchurch yesterday. An allegation that the British Government was exerting pressure in opposition to the highlyfavoured Dutch Fokker Friendship airliner was made by a Fokker director, Mr F. Diepen, this week. “There has been a lot of pressure from manufacturers and their representatives, but no directions or pressure from the Government,” Sir Leonard Isitt said. Mr Diepen would be coming to New Zealand to discuss replacements before the end of this month, he added. 10 Planes Needed

Sir Leonard Isitt said that the full number of machines of the type offering that the airline would require to replace its present passenger fleet would be 10

However, the whole 10 would not be purchased all at once. They would be bought over a “long period.” “We can only replace as the aerodromes come in to take them,” he said.

“Finance No Hurdle” When asked about how the replacement planes would be paid for and what it was estimated they would cost. Sir Leonard Isitt said that the finance had got to be negotiated. “All these companies have got schemes." he said “It will not be any great hurdle.” Sir Leonard Isitt said that the corporations board had delayed a decision on the replacement of its DC3 fleet for six months in order to get information on aircraft other than the Fokker. He said that the board would discuss the subject again in

November, and then it was hoped that it would be able to make a firm recommendation about the type and make of aircraft to be obtained. When asked whether the board had accepted the decision of its deputy-chairman (Mr H. Worrall) to withdraw from a proposed visit overseas to consider replacements, he replied: “That is a board matter. Mr Worrall will be reporting to the board and the board will look at it at its next meeting. I would prefer not to comment further.”