WORST WEATHER HOLDUP IN N.Z. AIR HISTORY OCCURRED YESTERDAY

Wanganui Chronicle, 11 May 1948, Page 5

WORST WEATHER HOLDUP IN N.Z. AIR HISTORY OCCURRED YESTERDAY

(P.A.) Auckland, May 10. The worst hold-up in the history of civil aviation in New Zealand occurred today, when pilots of eight National Airways Corporation auxiners, on routes from* Whenuapai to the south, decided that weather conditions were below the minimum standard required by Government regulations for visual flying. Only two outward flights to Paraparaumu and Northland were completed. More than 130 passengers were unable to leave by air, and many waited at Whenuapai from 7.30 a.m. until the Corporation finally cancelled all flights at 3.30 p.m. The pilots grounded their aircraft under international instrument flying rules introduced by the Government, as a member of the International Civil Aviation Organisation, on January 1. The only radio-range in operation is at Whenuapai, and until a Dominion chain of ranges and homer beacons is completed internal air liners will not be able to fly on instruments, end pilots will be bound to observe the visual flying minima prescribed in the regulations. Mangere was declared unfit fot heavy aircraft this morning as the result of rain on the runway and National Airways Corporation. Lodestars and Lockheeds were instructed to use Whenuapai. Shortly after 8 a.m. a Douglas took off for Harowoou, a Lockheed for Paraparaumu, and another Lockheed for Palmerston North. They were all forced to return to Whenuapai. At 11.45 a.m. two more 'aircraft left for the south. Less than 30 minutes later one turned back over Raglan and encountered a severe electrical storm on its track to Whenuanai, and turned south again, reaching Paraparaumu by way ot Wanganui. This was the only air liner to reach a southern destination all day, the second aircraft having to turn back at 12.45 p.m., when over Waikato Heads.

The day’s tally of cancelled flights was: Christchurch 2; New Plymouth and Palmerston North 1, Dunedin 1, Wellington 2, Tauranga and Gisborne 1. With the exception of the late afternoon flight from Paraparaumu, which was diverted into Palmerston North, all inward programmes were maintained. Two special service cars took passengers to New Plymouth and hasty and inter-island ferry arrangements were made for travellers to leave for the south tonight.