Engineers Attending Course On Boeing

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31580, 18 January 1968, Page 6

Engineers Attending Course On Boeing

Sixteen aircraft engineers from Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch are attending the first eix-week licensing course at the National Airways Corporation’s engineering headquarters at Harewood to prepare for the servicing of the Boeing 737 later this year.

The courses are being run by the four N.A.C. technical instructors who attended specialist courses on the aircraft in the United States last year. Mr E. R. McDonald, the engineering department manager, said that the cor-

poratlon must have at least 12 engineers licensed to service the 737 when it arrived In New Zealand later this year. Although the 737 would be easier to service than other aircraft in N.A.C.’> fleet the intricate electronic systems in the jet engines would make greater attention to detail necessary during overhauls. Four course* on the Boeing, each lasting one week, have already been held at Harewood. About 15 N.A.C. engineers would go to the United States for practical experience with the engines and the radio and electronic systems of the aiP craft, said Mr McDonald. In addition the airline would send six of its technical staff to the United States to watch the assembly ot th* 737 on the production line in April. In addition to gaining practical experience the men would check the assembly through its various stages for acceptance by N.A.C. A dumber of American technical representatives would come to New Zealand with the aircraft. They would stay for 1? months to assist N.A.C. with any technical problems which might arise, said Mr McDonald.