CIVIL AVIATION

Grey River Argus, 2 December 1938, Page 4

CIVIL AVIATION

A, Club’s Complaint LACK OF ENCOURAGEMENT ALLEGRO. NEW PLYMOUTH', November 29. Complaints that the civil branch of the Air Department was not attending to the interests*of aero clubs and encouraging them in their work were made at . a meeting of the New Plymouth Aero Club committee last night. A report from the pilots’ committee alleged that many of the club’s difficulties were due to regulations and the attitude of the Department. It was explained that the report was for*warded to the Department on November 18, s o that its views could be put before the committee at the same time, but so far no reply had been received. Charges of inefficinecy were made. Though the club has five planes, only two of them were in the air, one with a temporary certificate of. airworthiness. Another_ plane was undergoing repair work, a fourth had been held up at Wellington since the beginning of October awaiting solution of a deadlock between the New Zealand and American Governments*, and the fifth, a Tiger Moth, had been awaiting repairs at Hobsonville since early in September. The lack of planes had Jed to decreased interest among-the members, and serious financial. loss to the club.

“The extreme difficulty and hign cost of complying with the air regulations as thev are now being interpreted and applied to aero clubs make it impossible to carry on the activities of the New Plymouth Club unless additional aircraft are purchas . ed and maintained'to cover delays! while the machines already in service are grounded at pleasure for inspection by the Department,” the report stated. “This - will entail additional oul;lay s m capital and maintenance costs, and the outcome of tnis will cause the club to increase its flying charges to members.” '