Lack Of Staff For Airport Radar

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30823, 7 August 1965, Page 17

Lack Of Staff For Airport Radar

(From Our Parliamentary Reporter)

WELLINGTON, August 6.

All air traffic control radar services in the Christchurch terminal area are likely to be curtailed or restricted unless more technical and operational staff are recruited in the Civil Aviation Department.

The Minister of Civil Aviation (Mr McAlpine) said this in Parliament in reply to a question from Dr. A. M. Finlay (Opp., Waitakere). He said a similar position prevailed in the Wellington and Auckland districts. Other possible repercussions from the shortage could be deferment of staff annual leave, deferment of attendance at training courses, a limited capability to cover staff absences through sickness and delays in job training for ratings. Mr McAlpine said existing scheduled internal flights were not likely to be affected by the shortage but it would affect any increases in schedules which might be proposed because of heavier passenger loadings. “The new international air-

port at Mangere will be opened to international traffic without restriction but with restrictions on internal schedules.” Some secondary airports, the Minister said, might be marginally affected He said as a result of its overseas recruiting campaign, the department had obtained 14 recruits from Canada. Results from England were not available.