ANOTHER AIRFIELD PLANNED FOR BULLER DISTRICT

Greymouth Evening Star, 31 July 1947, Page 3

ANOTHER AIRFIELD PLANNED FOR BULLER DISTRICT

Plans for the development of the airfield at Karamea, involving an expenditure of £16,000, have been prepared for consideration by the Director of Civil Aviation, according to advice received this week by the Bullpr County Council from the Minister of Lands, Mr C. F. Skinner, following representations to the Minister vof Works (Mr R. Semple).

It was stated that in its' /present state of development, the present airfield was not of sufficient size for licensing for regular use. by the types of commercial 'aircraft used on the NelsonrWeslport service, and the expenditure of the suggested £2500 on airfield drainage, though improving the field, would not make it suitr able for safe, regular use by such commercial air service aircraft. Plans for the regrading of the existing fields and development of possible extensions had been drawn up and were ready for submission, with estimates of cost to the Director of Civil Aviation. ■ The new proposals would develop a system of two cambered runways in place of the flat all-way field. Experience with airfields on the West Coast had shown that on account of. the heavy rainfall and the poor draining characteristics of the subsoil,’ cambered runways were the only means by which safe all-weather availability cpuld be ensured. The estimated cost of the initial proposals was some £12,000, and the possible extension a further £4OOO.