Franz helicopter

Press, 9 May 1980, Page 12

Franz helicopter

Sir. — It is the way of big business to announce with a, fanfare its latest exploitation. Thus, the Mount Cook Company announces the arrival of its new. noisy, and expensive helicopter for the Franz Joseph Glacier. For months the helicopter has been associated with antinational park hysteria aided by Westland business interests. The company hopes that, the Westland National Park Board will buy its proposal in order to quieten opposition in spite of it contradicting park policj’. It wants to force a decision, so the machine arrives without the permission it needs, at a time of local crisis (the loss of the glacier access road) and when the future management of the park is undecided. I hope this will not be a fait accompli and that the board withstands this pressure in the interests of the humble tourist who wishes to enjoy the glacier in peace.—Yours, etc, graeme McPherson. April 29, 1980.

[A spokesman for the Mount Cook Line has replied: “Our new, relatively quiet, and expensive helicopter was granted a licence by the Air Services Licensing Authority last December to operate within a 50-kilo-metre radius from the Franz Joseph airfield, including over-flying the Westland National Park. The helicopter is currently being operated within the terms of that licence.”]