Decision Delayed On Use Of Paraparaumu

Press, Volume C, Issue 29487, 13 April 1961, Page 19

Decision Delayed On Use Of Paraparaumu

"The Press" Special Service

WELLINGTON, April 12. The Civil Aviation Administration will be some time in deciding on a National Airways Corporation application to use Paraparaumu airport as a diversion field for Viscount planes when weather closes Rongotai airport. The deputy-Director of Civil Aviation (Mr L. F. P. Taylor) said the administration was largely preoccupied at present with Mangere international airport planning and had been unable to give the N.A.C. application high priority. The decision could be important to all Viscount travellers through Wellington who, when Wellington airport closes, are at present switched to Milsom. Palmerston North, three hours away by bus. Paraparaumu is only about an hour away by bus. A new non-skid braking system on Viscounts is the basis of the corporation application to use the 4600-foot Paraparaumu runway as an alternative to the 5300-foot Rongotai strip. The original concept for Wellington airport was .to have Paraparaumu upgraded and extended as a complementary diversion field.

For financial reasons Kttle has been done. With the Gov.

ernment now insisting on a strict 50-50 cost-sharing basis with local government, the job—estimated at about £1 million—is unlikely to be begun for some time. Mr Taylor said it might be possible to allow Viscounts to use Paraparaumu without extension, but the administration would first have to make detailed studies of the runway conditions. Some repair work would still be necessary.

Costs would then have to be matched against a study of the actual amount of weather diversion of Viscounts from Wellington airport and of likely weather at Paraparaumu.