H.B. AERO CLUB FLYING AT LOSS: CONCERN FELT

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22821, 16 December 1948, Page 6

H.B. AERO CLUB FLYING AT LOSS: CONCERN FELT

(S.FT.) HASTINGS, Doc. 16. The more active the Hawke’s Bay and East Coast Aero Club becomes as a flying club, and the better service it gives, the more its financial losses on flying tend to increase. This position is stated in the club’s annual report to be a matter of constant concern to the committee.

The total revenue earned from flying for the year—£6o93 4s lOd—was easily a club record, the report says. Altogether, there were 1679 hours and 10 minutes of (lying. Of this total, the Proctor flew 367 hours 50 minutes Forty-eight ot the licences now held by club members are “A” licenses and the club has also 10 “B” pilots . The year has been free of any major loss to the club’s fleet, this being the first year that this experience has been enjoyed since the club resumed flying after the war. The fleet comprises one Proctor and four Tiger Moths. At present one Tiger Moth is being equipped with a canopy and a long-range tank to enable it to give better service on crosscountry flights.

The club was particularly active in January, February and March of this year in completing the training ot A.T.C. cadets. A start has now been made on a fresh group of trainees, and it is hoped to complete their training by March 31.