New hope for N.Z. DC10s

Press, 18 June 1979, Page 4

New hope for N.Z. DC10s

PA Wellington: Britain will go ahead with, plans to overturn the international grounding of DClf* aircraft, and New Zealand; will follow its lead. The Director of Civil Aviation (Captain E. T. Kippenberger) said last evening that a week-end cablegram gave details of Britain’s plans to draw up its own DClf) safety check. The check will be designed to test the suspect engine pylon mounting on DClOs. which have been grounded : for the last 11 days. Other European countries are also close to conducting their own checks on DC His. but Captain Kippenberger said that it was better for New Zealand to follow Britain’s actions. It the British issued the DIO with a new airworthiness certificate it was more likely that Hong Kong. Singa-

pore, and Australia would re open their air space to DClOs, he said. The co-operation of these countries was essential if Air New Zealand is to resume its international DCIO flights. Captain Kippenberger also said that the American Federal Aviation Administration m>ght Ini toe DiO oan before European countries acted. It appeared that the F.A.A. was close to taking court action to overturn the grounding imposed by a United States Federal judge after an application bv the American Airline Passengers’ Association. Air New Zealand has six DClOs idle because of the international groundings but will resume Wellington's jet link to Australia this evening. A DCB will leave Weellington at 9.30 p.m. for Mel-