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(b) Crash/Fire Organization In the section dealing with " Aerodrome Equipment" the report of the United Kingdom Civil Aviation Mission stated : Attention is drawn to the urgent need to improve the fire-fighting organization at aerodromes, both in equipment and personnel. The Mission pointed out that expenditure on fire and crash rescue equipment is in the nature of an insurance premium, and, although it may be impossible to provide any fully effective system, the State and aerodrome authorities cannot neglect the obvious duty to provide what is possible to minimize loss of life and property. Accordingly, in submitting recommendations to the Government regarding the needs of the various civil airports - in New Zealand, very careful investigation has been necessary in order to assess the minimum requirements in each case, and the scale of equipment recommended has, in general, been governed by the amount of traffic and the size of the aircraft using the aerodromes. Crash/fire facilities are now provided at the following civil aerodromes throughout New Zealand : Kaitaia, Auckland (Mangere), New Plymouth, Whangarei, Gisborne, Palmerston North, Paraparaumu, Nelson, Westport, Hokitika, Christchurch (Harewood), and Invercargill. In addition, arrangements have been completed with R.N.Z.A.F. to take over existing facilities at Hamilton, Blenheim (Woodbourne), and Dunedin (Taieri). Firemasters have now been appointed at Kaitaia, Gisborne, Palmerston North, Paraparaumu, Nelson, Westport, Hokitika, Invercargill, Dunedin (Taieri), Blenheim (Woodbourne), Hamilton, and New Plymouth. Deputy Firemasters have also been appointed at Palmerston North, Paraparaumu,. and Christchurch (Harewood). Equipment is on order for the Napier, Rotorua, Tauranga, Kaikohe, and Waitaki Aerodromes and should be available within the next six months. With the supply of this equipment the initial stage of crash/fire protection will be completed. Vehicles are also on order and under construction for Faleolo (Western Samoa) and Rarotonga. Tenders have been called through the Post and Telegraph Department for the supply of chassis on which to build modern crash tenders for the main airports. 3. Am Traffic Control Section (Including Search and Rescue Organization) The Air Traffic Control Service has been maintained at a high level during the past year, but due to the unsettled staffing position is has not been possible to devote as much attention as desirable to long-range planning and research. Training of new personnel has been restricted to "on the job " training, owing to difficulties in obtaining technical and domestic accommodation for the projected school of Air Traffic Control, but these difficulties have been largely overcome, and it is hoped to have the school opened at the R.N.Z.A.F. Station, Ohakea, in June, 1950. In order to keep abreast of changes in ICAO Standards, Procedures, and Recommended Practices, and also to provide working manuals for pilots and ground personnel, considerable effort has been expended in revising and preparing new publications. These should all be available within the next few months. From an Air Traffic Control viewpoint the most significant factor during the past twelve months was the increase in movements conducted under Instrument Flight Rules —that is, movements conducted under positive control by the Air Traffic Control

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