LANDING AIDS AT HAREWOOD

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 29057, 20 November 1959, Page 14

LANDING AIDS AT HAREWOOD

Minister’s Views On Use (From Our Own Reporter) WELLINGTON, Nov. 19. The Civil Aviation Administration is not prepared to ask the United States Government for the use of its ground control approach equipment at Christchurch Airport to provide cover for National Airways Corporation and other New Zealand aircraft. “The United States G.C.A. facility established at Christchurch airport has, in past seasons, only been staffed to handle the planned movements of U.S. Antarctic expedition aircraft,” the Minister of Civil Aviation (Mr Mathison) said today, in a written reply to a question asked during the Parliamentary session by Mr W. H. Gillespie (Opposition, Huruhui).

“It would be asking too much of the United States Government to provide cover for the daily spread of N.A.C. movements over seven days of the week, and to assume as a regular commitment my department’s responsibility for safety in regard to this type of approach aid,” said Mr Mathison. “The commanding officer of the U.S. expedition has always been most co-operative in making the facility available should an emergency arise, and also in providing training for such operating staff and pilots as we have been able to make available from time to time.’’ Mr Gillespie has asked whether the Minister was prepared to approach the Americans to ask them if they would make’ this equipment available to N.A.C. services.