NEW AIR SERVICE TO AUSTRALIA TOMORROW Christchurch-Sydney By Electra In 3hr 50min

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29109, 22 January 1960, Page 16

NEW AIR SERVICE TO AUSTRALIA TOMORROW Christchurch-Sydney By Electra In 3hr 50min

Jet-prop Electra passenger aircraft will be introduced on the regular Christchurch-Australia run by Tasman Empire Airways tomorrow afternoon.

The 400 mile an hour American-built airliner Aotearoa is due to reach the airport only three hours and a half out from Sydney at 2.30 p.m.

At 5 p.m. it is scheduled to be bound for Melbourne. The flight time in this sector is 4hr 35min.

Electras inaugurated their Tasman service from Auckland to Sydney at the beginning of last month.

Direct operation in and out .of Rongotai airport (Wellington) is intended and T.E.A.L. hopes to be working this terminal about mid-year.

The routing of international Electra flights through New Zealand’s internal air routes to pick up and set down passengers travelling across the Tasman is under consideration.

Three new aircraft of the type are being obtained by T.E.A.L. for its fleet.

They will replace the DC-6 piston-engine planes which were taken over by the airline frofn British Commonwealth Pacific Airlines in 1954. The DC-6’s will be retired next month and kept at Whenuapai until a buyer can be found for them.

The life of the Electras is officially estimated at about five or six years.

The Lockheed-made aircraft were selected because should not take one giant stride into pure jet operastrides into pure jet operation; but should progress in two steps by way of turboprop operation as a number of overseas airlines have done with success.

Agreements with the

Lockheed Aircraft Corporation, the Allison division of General Motors and Aeroproducts Operations for the acquisition of the Electras were signed as long ago as September 5, 1958.

Financing will be achieved by the nine million dollar loan from J. P. Morgan and Company, New

York; the marshalling of £1.2 million from the airline’s own resources; and proceeds from the proposed sale of the DC-6’s.

To provide facilities for jet-prop engine overhaul, existing buildings at Mechanics’ Bay, Auckland, have been altered.

During the period of overlap between Electra and DC-6 operations a considerable increase in spare parts storage has resulted

and T.E.A.L. has had to lease 20,000 square feet of extra space near the bay for a short term.

The basic Electra has required changes to fit it in with T.E.A.L. operations and in making the changes there was close co-opera-tion with Qantas Empire Airways in Australia. Qantas will also operate the Electra on international routes.

It is expected that spare utilisation from T.E.A.L. Electras will be made available to Qantas under charter on Qantas routes.

For that reason, fleet interchangeability has been a primary objective of the two airlines in the equipment of their Electra fleets. Many items of ancillary equipment for the Electra fleet have been bought by the airline in New Zealand and Australia.

They include passenger chairs, certain radio and test equipment and tooling.

A pool of insurance and notable type spare parts has been set up in Sydney by T.E.A.L. in conjunction with three Australian airlines. /