MECHANICS BAY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27039, 25 March 1949, Page 6

MECHANICS BAY

PERMANENT HEADQUARTERS s FOR REPAIRS TASMAN AIRWAYS INTENTION Daily Times Special Service AUCKLAND, Mar. 24. The intention of Tasman Empire Airways Ltd., to use its Mechanics’ Bay base as its permanent repair headquarters irrespective of any future decision which might be made to change from flying boats to land-based aircraft, was revealed by the company’s general manager, Mr G. N. Roberts. He said that large scale development plans for the base had been founded on sound, economic lines formed from long-term considerations. As long as the company continues to use flying boats, the Auckland Harbour Board will permit it to use its present area. Solent flying boats, which will enter the Tasman service this year, .will give an assurance of the continued use of the base as a terminal for five to seven years, but there is no definite indication that flying boats will be used after that period. If a change to land based aircraft is made, the Harbour Board will require the company to vacate the foreshore at Mechanics’ Bay. For this reason, the company’s main installations will be set back from the waterfront. The chief building to' be erected will be a two-storey engineering repair shop of reinforced concrete. It will be 280 ft long by 100 ft wide and will house offices and instrument repair facilities in the upper storey. Buildings sited closer to the foreshore will include a hangar 152 ft long by 130 ft wide, constructed entirely of steel framework with a metal sheathing. “ The forward buildings, including the hangar, will pay for themselves said Mr Roberts. “This will be by well within the life of four Solents” enabling us to make economies which cannot oe undertaken while we are operating at Hobsonville.