FEDERATED FLYING CLUB

Taranaki Daily News, 16 October 1931, Page 9

FEDERATED FLYING CLUB

REVIEW OF YEAR’S ACTIVITIES. NEW CHAIN OF AERODROAIES “The formation of a federation of aero clubs operating on the west coast of the North Island was brought about at the suggestion of the Director of _ Air Services On account of the impossibility of obtaining training subsidies! for each club liijdei’ the scheme laid down by the defence Department, and in order to effect economy in operating costs,” stated Air. A. S. Burgess (Wanganui), president of the Western Federated (N.I ) Flying Club, in his annual report which was adopted at Hawera last night. The annual meeting was held on August 19 at Wanganui but the report was held over until the next meeting of the council. It was stated that the year’s operations had been satisfactory considering the economic conditions and geographical difficulties of the district controlled, ...» “A conference of delegates from thq New Plymouth, Hawera aiid Wanganui: clubs was held at Hawera on Alareh 31, 1930, when the matter was fully discussed, and a committee was set up to draft .a scheme, the adoption of which, would enable the clubs to earn the Goy--efnment sUbeldy and effect economies in operating costs,”, continued the report. “These would have been prohibitive if it had been necessary for each club to acquire its own machines and employ d pilot instructor and ground engineer—a fact which has been borne but by the experience of Other clubs. PURCHASE OF PLANES. - “A Moth ’plane (ZK-AAX) was purchased from Taranaki Airways Limited, and a Government machine was obtained on loan. Ssubsequently another Moth" ’plane, which had bebn ordered by tlr Wanganui club, was taken by the federation and a second Government machine was obtained on loan, making four machines in all. An application has been made to the Defence Department for the loan of another machine, but it is understood that no more are available for loan to. clubs at present. “The New Plymouth and Hawera aerodromes having already been licensed, training operations were commenced at both these centres and actively carried oil -by Flying Officer Keith. -The formation of the Wanganui aerodrome was pushed on and as soon as it was made available training were carried on at Wanganui with satisfactory results. Provision was made for an aerodrome at Palmerston North and Major Cowper was engaged as temporary instructor and stationed at Palmerston North for the" purpose of training pupil niejnbers 6f tiie Feilding and Manawatu Aero Clubs. Each bf the five clubs has provided a hangar on its aerodrome, adequate to it-s - requirements, and petrol reservoirs and pumps have been installed in each ease- The Feildipg aerodrome was licensed in November and the Wanganui areodrome was official Iv opened in April. * ‘-'Air. Salter was appointed ground engineer and stationed 'at New Plymouth aerodrome, where a considerable amount of apparatus and plant has been installed'by the New Plymouth club, and this ’ 5 been supplemented by some necessary items of equipment provided by the federation. Air. Saltdr has done excellent work in. overhauling and repairing machines, and his work in niainraining the machines in a clean and servicable condition is worthy of commendation, which is also due to Flying Officer Keith and Major Cowper, and their respective pupils. TRAINING OF PUPILS. “The federation joined the New Zealand Aero Club, a. body formed to promote the interests of all clubs in New Zealand, as one of the foundation members of body, ft lid. Mr- GSpence was appointed the representative of the federation and was subsequently elected a vjee-president, Enquiries, have been instituted by the New Zealand Aero Club with a view to obtaining insurance of all club machines ip New Zealand against all risks, but pending the arrangement of a suitable policy the federation has taken out a public risk policy for protection in the event of an accident to any member of the public arising out of the operations of the federation. “Up to the end of the year under review eleven pupils have been examined and qualified for their “A” licenses, several moi'e being in training- Of those who have qualified four have since succeeded in obtaining endorsement authorising them to carry passcrigers. The pupils have all manifested great keenness, and a good club spirit prevails among them- They have at all times been willing to give ssistauce to the ground engineer and officials in all matters appertaining to tiie care of the machines and the advancement of the club. The success attending the training of pupils of the constituent clubs has been most gratifying, and the fact tliav hundreds of flights have been made by them during the yOay. with Only one slight accident occasioned by flying bears fesfimohy to the careful ipstruction which they have received ftfid their observance of what they have been taught. • “The chain of well equipped aerodromes through the club’s territory has been of- material assistance to visiting ’planes, of which there have been in increasing nupiber. It is the policy or the federation to • encourage _ crosscountry flying and inter-club- visits as well as to stimulate interest in commercial flying, and the resources of the federation are always at the disposal of visitors who desire to make, use of them.”