High Wind Causes Dust Nuisance At Airport

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 29060, 24 November 1959, Page 14

High Wind Causes Dust Nuisance At Airport

Near gale-force winds averaging 30 miles an hour throughout the day, with gusts of up to 50 and 60 miles an hour, brought with them a severe dust nuisance at the Christchurch Airport yesterday. The winds, from a northwesterly quarter, gathered up thick clouds of dust from the excavation work at the airport for the tarmac extensions, and this penetrated the new air terminal and other adjacent buildings, made visibility poor for short periods, and delayed refuelling of several aircraft. No aircraft schedules were affected, and delays to flights averaged only a few minutes at most. Dust covered the floor of the passenger terminal to such an extent that the pattern of the floor tiles could not be distinguished clearly. The dust had to be swept away when the wind changed to the south-west during the afternoon.

The north-westerly wind sprang up about 4 am. yesterday, and by 8.30 a.m. had freshened to gusts of up to 42 miles an hour. Its full

severity began late in the morning with gusts of -up to 53 miles an hour, and at 1.15 p.m. a peak of 60 miles an hour was reached. The wind switched to a southwesterly quarter shortly before 3 p.m., and although strong winds of up to 54 miles an hour were experienced the dust nuisance abated. A few showers of wind-driven rain from the south-west were experienced. A rapid fall in temperature from 70 degrees at 2 p.m. to 52 degrees at 4 p.m. accompanied the change. The contractors on the tarmac extension work had started removing the topsoil when the full force of the wind was felt. The light, sandy soil which was bared by the bulldozers was swept up and penetrated even through the air conditioning system of the terminal. In the weather office, about 400 yards away, the dust adhered to recording instruments, releasing heavy lines of ink onto the paper, although not affecting the operation of the instruments. Work on the excavations was stopped when aircraft were scheduled to arrive or depart so chat visibility would not be impaired, and on two occasions the bulldozers ceased operations while the Viscount, due to depart for Auckland, and other aircraft were refuelled. Later, the area on which work was being carried out was sprayed to settle the dust. The wind change drove the dust away from the direction of the airport buildings.