LOCAL AVIATION

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 65, 17 March 1936, Page 6

LOCAL AVIATION

WESTERN FEDERATION BUSINESS > TWO CRASHES INVESTIGATED PILOTS EXONERATED A meeting of the Western Federated (North Island) Flying Clubs was held at Hawera yesterday. Air A. S. Burgess presided. Those present were: Messrs A. Sandford, J. R. Franklin, J. Strachan, L. O. Hooker. R. Syme, C. Hannan, W. F. Buist, C. Hannan, A. Salter (engineer), and Flying-Officer lan Keith (instructor). It was 'cided to recommend that the annual meeting of the New Zealand Aero Club should be held during April each year. The secretary, Air S. Neilsen, reported that the final of the Bledisloe ‘’up competition was being held at Now Plymouth during the coming week-end when the judges will be present fot the No:th Island air pageant. The Question of the erection of obstructions near aerodromes was discussed, delegates being of the opinion that if it should give compensation . there would be no end to the matter. * It was decided on the motion of Mr J. R. Franklin to instruct the federation’s delegates to the annual conference of the New Zealand Aero Clubs to support any measure for the safety of aerodr Crashes Investigated An enquiry was held into the circumstances of the crash of ZK—ABP, piloted by J. .Stewart, at the Now Plymouth aerodrome on February 22. Reports were received from tho pilot, the instiuctor, and the ground engineer, the latter reporting that the damage to the ’plane was about £250. Flying-Officer I. Keith said that the crash was due to lack of knowledge on the part of the pilot. The pilot had since been granted a licence by the Government and at the time of the crash made an error which anv trainee was liable to make. The meeting found that the crash was due tn an error of judgment. Tt was also decided that the question of allowing pupils to go solo should be left to the instructor, but that the greatest care should be observed. An enquiry was held into an accident at the New Plymouth aerodrome when Mr R. Mart-n collided with a sheep concealed in the grass, when taking off with a passenger for Rotorua. The ground engineer said the damage to the machine was between £175 to £2OO. Al r J. Strachan suggested that someone should be in charge of «heep at every aerodrome in New Zealand. It was frequently difficult to see sheen od the ground when taking off or land ing. Tt. was decided that no blame for iho accident was attributable Io the pilot and that the responsibility for keeping aerodromes clear of ohstru*.*fions was one for tho«e in charge of the aerodromes. A. suggestion was made by FlyingOfficer lan Keith that the federation should commence a school of engineering for the tuition nf youths desiring to learn aero engineering under the guidance of the chili’s engineer. The proposal was not gone on with, the feeling of delegates being that too much of the engineer’s time would be required. The question of the tuition of ad vanned acrobatics was brought forward in a letter received from the Wanganui Aero Club, which pointed out that some of ils membo’s were now receiving instruction in this branch of flying from the Alanawatu Aero ”lub. It was decided, after a lengfhv discussion, tn defer the matter until the next meeting when a report is to be submitted by the pilot-instructor. ANNUAL MEETING HELD president re Elected TRIBUTES TO MR A. S. BURGHBB The annual meeting cf the Western Federation (North Island) Flying Clubs wa.s held at Hawera yesterday afternoon, Mr A. S. Burgess (Wanganui; presiding. The annual report and balance-sheet (previously published) were adopted without discussion. Mr Burgess was re-elected president for the ensuing year. Tributes to his good work in the interests of aviation in the district were paid to Air Burgess bv Air A. Sandford a.id Dr. Bui«t. Mr Burgess was also appointed the club’s representative on the New Zealand Aero Club. A motion of appreciation of the services of the secretary (M r S. I. Neilsen), the instructor (Flying-Officer lan Keith) and the engineer (Mr A. Salter) Mr A. Sandford gave notice of his intention to move at the next general meeting that the financial year should end on March 31. The secretary said that it was desired that all the aero clubs throughout the Dominion should complete their statement of accounts on a definite day in order to facilitate the compilation of statistics frequently sought by the various Government department .