Sudden Flooding Caused Havoc At Aerodrome

Greymouth Evening Star, 2 September 1947, Page 7

Sudden Flooding Caused Havoc At Aerodrome

With the breaching of a stopbank in the south-west corner of the aerodrome, near the mouth of Mahinapua creek, the waters flowed on to the Hokitika aerodrome like a miniature tidal wave and in a few minutes there was a depth of 4ft 6in in the hangars, offices and waiting rooms of Air Travel (N.Z.) Ltd. Two members of the staff were on the premises when the stop-bank gave way about 10.30 p.m., but by the time they had given the alarm by telephone, the water was kneehigh. Quantities of oil from the hangars and repair shops were spread by the flood waters and the scene at the air station this morning was one of havoc. At the peak of the flood the water was a foot higher in the hangars and office building than in the previous big flood and reached every part of the buildings. Planes Partly Submerged

Two aeroplanes, a Rapide and a Fox Moth, were in the hangars and it was impossible to prevent them from being caught by the flood waters. The oily waters invaded even the cabin of the Fox Moth.

The company’s engineer, Mr W. Dini, stated this morning that a preliminary investigation disclosed that there had been no structural damage to the planes, but they would have to be partly dismantled to dry out the motors. They would not be in flying condition for about a week, but it was hoped to obtain a Dominie to carry on the service in the meantime.

With the breaking of the stopbank, the whole aerodrome was covered to a depth of about five feet, but once the water receded the runway quickly dried out and it was possible for a Dominie plane to land at 11 o’clock this morning. A visiting plane, it carried Mr A. G. Ger-

rand, operations manager for the National Airways Corporation, who is conducting the negotiations for the absorption of the company by the corporation.

At the present time, Air Travel Ltd. is still conducting the West Coast service, the change to corporation control being scheduled to take place on October 1. Loss of Replacement Parts

In addition to the temporary loss of its planes, the company may have suffered a greater loss in damage to a new Gipsy VI replacement engine, which was still in its crate in the hangar. It is feared that the waters may have got into the new engine, but the extent of the damage will not be known until the cleaning-up process has proceeded further. There has also been a loss of replacement parts and stores, while the company’s papers and documents this morning presented a picture of an oily mess. With their feet sticking in the thick film of oil and grease which spread throughout the hangar buildings, the company’s staff faced an unenviable cleaning-up task today. Everything was wet and dirty, and like Hokitika business people and householders, they welcomed today’s sunshine to dry out papers, furniture and effects.