Airline approved, but divided

Press, 17 November 1981, Page 6

Airline approved, but divided

PA Auckland The, Aqua Avia Society, which was yesterday granted Civil Aviation approval to fly, is now involved in an internal dispute. At the centre of the latest row is the aviation consultancy firm of A.C.M.S., Ltd. The chairman of the Aqua Avia Society, Sir Reginald Barnewall, said yesterday that the society had decided to dismiss the consultancy firm. But the managing director of the consultancy firm, Mr K. Gibson, said he did not have a contract with the society; his contract was with the Piako Aero Club, which the society has contracted to run its air service. The president of the aero club, Mr Bruce McCrae, con-

firmed that A.C.M.S. had a contract with his club, and he said that at present the firm was still employed by the club.

“I am fairly disappointed," said Mr McCrae. “But it is early days. To my mind they are not sacked yet.” The matter would be one of a number of things to be discussed at a meeting between the society and the club today.

In other developments yesterday Sir Reginald also said that Mr John Trolove’s resignation as a director and vicechairman of the society had been accepted and that Mr Trolove had been dismissed from all executive positions. Mr Trolove is the manager of the Piako Aero Club air-

line division, a position the club wishes him to retain.

At the meeting today the society is expected to decide on a date for its first domestic service, which will probably be some time later this week.

A spokesman for the Christchurch office of Skybus said last evening that the organisation had a policy of making all information releases from Auckland, and he could not say if bookings were being taken in Christchurch.

The first flight by the 76seat Viscount is expected to be an early morning service to Wellington, followed by a Wellington to Christchurch flight.