New Aircraft Chosen

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31190, 14 October 1966, Page 1

New Aircraft Chosen

Mount Cook Airlines had chosen the aircraft it wanted to replace its DC3s, said the managing-director (Mr H. R. Wigley) in Christchurch yesterday.

He declined to name the aircraft.

“The replacement will not be made known until after the General Election. I doubt whether we will release the information before the end of the year,” he said.

The type selected must be suitable for the company’s operations for the next 15 years, said Mr Wigley. “The most suitable aircraft must have at least 40 seats.”

Mr Wigley said several factors were involved with the replacement decision. “We want the Department of Civil Aviation to give its intentions on the present unsealed strips. We are also interested in accommodation planned.”. The plane selected by the company had to fit in with the plans of the National Airways Corporation. This was especially so for maintenance arrangements, he said.

When he was overseas recently Mr Wigley looked at five or six aircraft as likely replacements for the DC3. But some of then! were too small

for the passenger expansion the company envisaged in the next 15 years. Mr Wigley said initially only one replacement was needed as a supporting plane to the DC3. The second plane would be needed just as soon as the work was available for it. Mr Wigley was in Christchurch to look at the company’s new sales and travel office in Cathedral square, which will open on Monday. The company has taken over the former sales office of Air New Zealand. Equipment from its present premises in New Regent street will be moved into the new premises at the week-end.