American skies safe, says N.Z. air chief

Press, 19 August 1981, Page 2

American skies safe, says N.Z. air chief

NZPA ' , Washington After talks in Washington yesterday on the United States air. traffic controllers’ strike, New Zealand’s Director of Civil Aviation, Captain E: T. Kippenberger, ..said he was “very reassured that American skies are safe. “The United States authorities have provided safe .operations up to now. and I have no reason to doubt that they will continue to provide them,” he said, after meeting officials of the Federal Aviation Administration yesterday morning. Captain Kippenberger left Washington yesterday afternoon for Los Angeles and Honolulu, where he said he would get “first-hand know-

ledge of how our aircraft are being handled.’” . . He said he was satisfied that United States air traffic control towers were being staffed adequately for the reduced number of flights now being made. Reports of near-misses by aircraft in American’ skies were, “just stories,” he said.

An F.A.A. spokesman said that arrangements were in hand for Captain Kippenberger to visit whatever air traffic control facilities he wished to see. New Zealand air traffic controllers, who have expressed doubts about the safety of American airspace after the strike, are clearing United States-bound aircraft to intermediate points in Fiji and Tahiti.