CLUB FLYING

Evening Star, Issue 25672, 21 December 1945, Page 7

CLUB FLYING

EARLY RESUMPTION PROMISED 200 TIGER MOTHS JN STORAGE (P.A.) CHRISTCHURCH, Dep. 20. The ban on club flying in New Zealand which has been in force since the war began will be lifted shortly, and aero clubs will be able to resume some of their flying activities. . This information was given by the Minister of Defence, Mr Jones, to-night, when he was asked how soon aero club members would be able to start flying again. Mr Jones said he hoped within the next few days to. be able to give authority for the issue of licenses to the existing aero clubs throughout New Zealand which would allow their members to resume flying. Aircraft would be made available as soon as possible to clubs that were able to receive them, and additional aircraft would be available as soon as certificates of airworthiness were granted. A limited quantity of petrol could be made available to clubs that wished to resume, and they would be able to carry on some of their flying activities. “ I believe this decision will be welcomed by the clubs, although it does not go as far as they would like,” said Mr Jones. “I think the majority of aero members are anxious to start flying, and will be quite prepared to wait for any further developments.” Mr Jones said that there was nothing to stop clubs resuming the training of pilots, hut no decision had been made by the Government regarding the payment of subsidies. These subsidies were paid before the war for the training of pilots, but to-day the position was entirely different, as there were pilots to spare. The Minister added that he was quite prepared to issue licenses to the owners of aircraft who had previously held a pilot’s license if they still had their machines and wished to fly. It might be possible to allow a limited quantity of petrol to private owners. During the war Tiger .Moths were produced in the Dominion by the De Havilland Aircraft Company, and approximately 200 are reported to have been placed in storage at the Taieri air station to await disposal through the War Assets Realisation Board.