New charges system for airports, airways

Press, 20 June 1984, Page 2

New charges system for airports, airways

PA Wellington Airports and airways are likely to be financed by a differential charges system, the Minister of Civil Aviation, Mr Gair, indicated yesterday. The Government had decided in principle to adopt such a system, he said. Airline operators must be Sared to accept the prin- ! that users should bear their fair share of the cost of providing and maintaining airways, he said, in an address to the Airline Pilots’ Association conference in Auckland.

A consultative body would also be set up to ensure greater involvement by parties in making decisions.

“This would seem only fair as the user paying for the facilities should also have a greater say.”

The expected growth in both commercial and private operations had resulted in a review of runway and terminal capacities, the Minister said.

“Unless we plan ahead and act accordingly, we will soon be faced with capacity problems in both the Wellington and Auckland urban areas.”

The Civil Aviation Division’s planning branch, with local bodies, had started to produce a master plan for each airport. The plans would set out the concept of each airport’s ultimate development. The first would be prepared for Wellington Airport, followed by regional airports in the Auckland area.

Mr Gair said the Civil Aviation Division had contracted Massey University to look at ways of making

the curriculum for commercial pilot and airline transport licences more applicable to today’s technological needs. A start had also been made with the private pilot’s licence and an evaluation of a competency-based training programme was being carried out. The review was expected to take five to 10 years, “which admittedly is a long time.”

“The reviewing and improving of the competency of flight crews at all levels is a complex task,” Mr Gair said.

More specific changes planned include the use of computers in the evaluation of examination papers and the move from a pass/fail system to more emphasis on improving individual competency in all training facets.