Dunedin radar parts for Christchurch
The radar system at Dunedin Airport may be used to patch the Christchurch Airport system, but not immediately. The Dunedin system would provide spares for others throughout the country, including Christchurch, said the regional director of airways operation for the Civil Aviation Division, Mr John Best. The Dunedin radar system was not taken out of operation on Monday to patch up the Christchurch system, he said.
That claim was made yesterday at the Christchurch City Council’s airport and electricity committee meeting by Cr Vicki Buck. Cr Buck said she was concerned that Dunedin now had to rely on instrument procedures for aircraft landings. As a user of the airport she was concerned that the airport had lost its radar to patch an obsolete system else-
where. “As the beneficiaries of the move we should write to the Dunedin City Council offering our support in their actions to maintain the standards at their airport,” she said.
Cr Buck said the Dunedin air traffic controllers, nine of whom would lose their jobs, had been effectively muzzled by Civil Aviation in their opposition to the removal of the radar.
“In light of that we should give Dunedin our support,” she said. Mr Best said the parts most likely to be used at Christchurch were valves. New Zealand’s radar system was old technologically and parts were not now made unless countries clubbed together to persuade a manufacturer to make a run.
He said passengers on flights in and out of Dunedin need have no fears. The instrument
flight rules procedures being used were used at other airports where there was much more traffic.
“It is really a case of the radar may have been better installed somewhere other than Dunedin in the first place,” he said.
Mr Best said the Dunedin system had been limited to the airport area because of the hills. It had not covered Invercargill. A new secondary surveillance system, which would be installed somewhere in North Otago, would reach that far and would be placed for best coverage, he said.
Mr Best said the removal of the Dunedin system was expedient and would provide spares to keep the entire New Zealand system working.
“We have to look at the system as a whole,” he said.
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Press, 30 January 1986, Page 7
Word Count
380Dunedin radar parts for Christchurch Press, 30 January 1986, Page 7
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