New float-plane on way to Picton

Press, 17 December 1982, Page 8

New float-plane on way to Picton

Picton’s commercial floatplane service might be back in the air by early January. Float-Air (Picton). Ltd. has been grounded since November 22, when its sole floatplane sank at its mooring in Picton Harbour. A replacement aircraft was expected to leave the United States yesterday on an island-hopp-ing flight to New Zealand.

The duration of the delivery flight. will depend on Pacific weather, but FloatAir’s owner-pilot, Mr Bruce Fulton, hopes the new Cessna 206 will arrive in New Zealand by Christmas, and will be cleared to fly tourists from Picton by January 10. ■ Delays in finalising a replacement aircraft have been frustrating for Mr Fulton. His engineer, Mr Reg Taylor, of Blenheim, examined the damaged aircraft soon after it was salvaged from the harbour. He found that it had sunk because of faults in the aircraft's floats. The floats’ inner compartments had not been properly sealed. Mr Fulton said. He had holed one of the compartments on the day before the sinking, but he had not noticed the hole because it was so small. Usually, leakage into one

compartment would not spread to the others but because of the sealing fault, water spread and the float sank, taking the aircraft with it.

The aircraft, valued about $150,000, was technically written off because of damage, caused by salt water. Mr Fulton had bought the new plane from Motor Holdings Aviation, Ltd, Dunedin, only weeks before it sank. He sent down the floats of his former plane, and Motor Holdings renovated and painted these, then fitted them to the new plane as part of the purchase agreement.

Motor Holdings has arranged for the replacement aircraft to be flown from the United States. The company’s Dunedin manager, Mr David McMillan, said that the aircraft that sank was well insured and that the insurance company bought the replacement. He said that the question of the responsibility for the loss had yet to be settled legally. December and January are Float-Air’s busiest months, and Mr Fulton intends seeking compensation for loss of earnings. He is also concerned at the effects

the delays are having on his business.

The loss of the aircraft is also being felt by the Picton community and. people working and holidaying in the Marlborough Sounds. As well as flying charter services for Government departments and taking tourists on scenic flights over the region. Mr Fulton has often used his float-plane as an emergency air ambulance.

A drama on December 7 involving a young woman who was stung by a bee while aboard a boat 16km north of Cape Jackson highlighted the need for Mr Fulton’s service. Fortunately a Wellington helicopter was available to take a doctor to the scene and the woman was flown to Wellington Hospital.

Dr Ron Mills, of Picton, who spent up to an hour relaying messages and advice to those involved in the rescue at Cape Jackson, said Mr Fulton’s float-plane would have been very useful. Mr Fulton could .have landed his float-plane, with a doctor aboard, beside the fishing boat before it reached Cape Jackson.