Appeal for tolerance

Press, 8 April 1988, Page 3

Appeal for tolerance

By

DAVE WILSON

The New Zealand Air Force appeals for understanding and tolerance from residents in the northern South Island because of lowflying Hercules aircraft in the area during next week.

Exercise Skytrain, a tactical flying training exercise involving and Republic of Singapore Hercules, will work from Woodbourne until April 16. The adjutant at Woodbourne, Squadron Leader Don Haggitt, said low-level airdropping missions would mean some aircraft flying as low as 250 ft.

‘‘The exercise is an important element in Air Force training and every endeavour will

be made to avoid built up areas. But regrettably there may be overflying of some houses,”; said Squadron Leader Haggitt. “The. flight planners are mindful of the alarm that can be caused by such flights and we hope the public will bear with us during this vital exercise.” Two Cl3O Hercules of 40 Squadron, based at Auckland, will take part in the exercise along with a Hercules of the: Republic of Singapore Armed Forces. [ A total of 120 Air Force personnel will take part in the exercise, living in a tent city on Woodbourne airfield. Exercise Skytrain is an annual R.N.Z.A.F. transport squadron exercise.