Friendships Restricted To Sealed Runways

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29238, 23 June 1960, Page 14

Friendships Restricted To Sealed Runways

(From Our Own Reporter;

WELLINGTON. June 22 Aircraft with tricycle undercarriages of the type and weight of the Fokker Friendship will not be permitted in the meantime to operate from grass airfields m scheduled services. This decision has been made by the Civil Aviation Administration after a special study of the problem which was ordered by the Cabinet A Civil Aviation spokesman said tonight that “the door was still open” if other evidence could be produced by interested parties, but that in the meantime, such aerodromes as Napier New Plymouth, Gisborne and Hamilton would be left out of regular Friendship operations. The main objection to using Friendships regularly on grass is allied with reports of damage to ■ireraft through stones being thrown up by the nosewheel, k. come from AustraSfrl****** th * climate is drier and 80 lush. In

Australia, also, runways are longer.

The National Airways Corporation also believes that sealed runways ,are essential before Friendships can be used on regular services.

This view is not shared bj the Fokker Aircraft Corporation, which maintains that the Friendship is capable of operating with complete safety anywhere a Douglas DC-3 can go. The decision is not considered serious because the first Friendships to arrive in New Zealand will all be employed on trunk routes in conjunction with the larger Viscounts This means that, initially, the Friendships will be flying between Auckland, Palmerston North. Wellington. Christchurch and Invercargill. Friendships will be able to use Wanganui. Momona, Nelson and Blenheim when sealing is completed, but this is unlikely until the* second group of Friendships

are delivered towards the end of next year. The Civil Aviation Administration believes that Gisborne. Hamilton and Napier each require about 1000 ft more runway to guarantee safety in wet conditions. There is also the possibility of damage to turbines by mud and water. The ban affects only scheduled services. i 3