Pilots seek ‘police’ at airports

Press, 18 September 1976, Page 1

Pilots seek ‘police’ at airports

A special national security force is needed at New Zealand airports—and needed quickly—according to the Airline Pilots’ Association. A “swift kick in the pants” might be needed to motivate Cabinet Ministers to act on a proposal for such a force, said the president of the association (Captain Frank Maguire) in Christchurch yesterday. A bill to provide for better airport security had been drafted more than two years ago, but had vet to be introduced in Parliament, he said.

“The delay in acting on this measure is highly regrettable,” he said. “A swift kick in the pants may be the only way of getting Parliament to resolve this thing.” Captain Maguire’s comments came after complaints by pilots about a lack of security at Auckland Airport. Although reluctant to discuss specific problems, he said the problem was urgent, and called a national security force the only real way to implement an adequate, trained security force. "ft must be national,” he said. ‘My first job*

The Minister of Transport (Mr McLachlan) told “The Press” yesterday that he would attempt to introduce the bill in the next few weeks. “As far as I am concerned, this matter has top priority,” he said. “Having just returned from overseas, I regard it as my first job to get this legislation completed. I am determined to bring the bill before the House as soon as possible.” Mr McLachlan said the bill would amend the Civil Aviation Act to provide “progressive staff increases.” Security staff would continue to be subject to police control, but would be employed directly by the Ministry, rather than by local bodies. Mr McLachlan did not explain why the bill had been delayed, or whether it was substantially different from a similar piece of. legislation drafted, but never introduced, by the previous Government. “Not football” In Auckland, an N.A.C. pilot, Captain Bill Howell, has criticise I a Magistrate for fining a man who drove a truck into a Singapore Airlines aircraft

there only $5OO. The man said he was protesting against the All Black tour of South Africa. “Considering that the offence a maximum of 14 years imprisonment, the fine would appear to be trivial," said Captain Howell. “The statement in the news medit that the Magistrate ‘sympathised’ with the offender appears to be at odds with everything we are attempting to achieve.” He said it seemed that such offences were viewed more leniently if they were politically motivated. Some potentially dangerous incidents were being overlooked by the New Zealand authorities.

Captain Maguire agreed that the Magistrate’s decision had dangerous implications. “Without becoming embroiled in an argument with the judiciary, one can only be concerned about these remarks,” he said. “This is not a game of football. Remarks like that, if they were correctly. reported, only invite the wrong kind of stirring.” Sunday chaos

Auckland pilots have also complained about the regular Sunday morning arrivals of Safe Air Bristol Freighters from Wellington, carrying Sunday newspapers. One pilot said that 30 to 40 delivery vehicles swarmed on to the runway as the plane touched down, creating a traffic “snarl.” “There is absolutely no control at all at the airport at that time,” said the pilot. “It is a shambles. What concerns me is that anybody can get among these aircraft unchallenged, and probably unnoticed.

“It could be a crank, or even a saboteur. They could damage or plant explosives in these aircraft without anyone knowing.” Captain Maguire said the Pilots’ Association had broken its normal policy of keeping quiet about security risks, “because this situation is so bad we do not mind making it public. There is virtually nothing being done to prevent incidents at the airport.” However, the situation was much better in Christchurch than further north, he said. “In lieu of a national authority, local bodies have been able to take up some of the slack.” The newspaper flights were unloaded in a freight area, rather than in front of the terminal, and a security officer was present at all times-