Landing System May Be Working Soon

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31841, 20 November 1968, Page 1

Landing System May Be Working Soon

The instrument landing system at Christchurch airport may be working again by Christmas but its use for flights will be determined by engineers of the Department of Civil Aviation who are due in Christchurch in the next two weeks.

The systems at Christchurch and Auckland were withdrawn from use late in April after it was found that the monitoring equipment was not entirely reliable.

At present the departmental engineers from Wellington are working at Auckland airport. Some items of the additional monitoring equipment have been received in New Zealand from the British manufacturers and,

with equipment made in the i department’s workshops. I sufficient is now to hand to; begin modifications to the! systems. When this has been done! at Mangere, the engineers; would come to Christchurch, said Mr G. Suttie, the depart-! ment’s regional technical officer in Christchurch, yester-' day.

Mr Suttie said not all the. relevant equipment was in the country. Other equipment. [ including the manufacturer’s technical manuals, still had to arrive.

When the installations at Christchurch and at Mapgere Wad been completed they would then have to be tested on the ground and by airborne calibration checks and it was possible the system would be regdy for Christmas.

The effect on traffic at Christchurch if the system; was still out at Christmas; would be small, said Mr Suttie.