Fog disrupts flights

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32640, 23 June 1971, Page 20

Fog disrupts flights

Thick fog which lay over Christchurch throughout yesterday seriously disrupted most flights in and out of Christchurch Airport.

Conditions fluctuated throughout the day, making it difficult for airtraffic control to assess when the fog had lifted sufficiently for aircraft to land or depart. The airport remained marginal most of the afternoon, after being closed almost all morning. It was also difficult for the National Airways Corporation to advise its passengers on what to do. OPEN FOR TAKE-OFF The airport was open for take-off at 7.20 a.m., and as a result a Boeing to Wellington and a Friendship to Nelson departed on time. However, at 9 a.m. it was closed for take-off, and a Viscount scheduled to leave at 9.05 a.m. did not leave until 10.36 am., when the airport was briefly open for take-off. It then remained closed until 12.10 p.m. except for a Bristol which landed from Blenheim, and departed soon after for the Chatham Islands. The closing affected a Friendship flight in and another out; two Viscounts in and two out, and one Boeing flight in and another out. One Viscount was diverted to Dunedin.

The fog lifted about midday—but the thick blanket of fog which appeared to move off in the direction of Lake Ellesmere returned soon after 1.15 p.m., making the airport marginal for landing until 3 p.m. By 5 p.m., the situation had worsened, and visibility on the runway was restricted to about 500 yards. Several flights were able to leave, but the airport still remained marginal for land-

tags. The situation fluctuated throughout the evening, with the air traffic control centre keeping a close watch on the fog. About 100 passengers were affected when a Boeing flight from Wellington had to return there at 7.20 p.m. A Viscount direct from Auckland was also forced to stop at Wellington, where the flight ended about 6.15 p.m. Another Viscount to Auckland was cancelled, but the passengers were booked on alternative services.

An NA.C. spokesman said that all passengers affected by the fog had been rebooked on other flights today.