New Zealand News

Sir Peter stated that Ansett NZ’s financial performance would be improved when the benefits of re-equipping with British Aerospace 146 jets were felt. The airline is now near the target share of the domestic traffic market of 40%. He also reported that Ansett NZ is ready to start its second phase of its investment strategy. This involves a new concentration on developing local tourism. Ansett was having joint venture talks with the Southern Pacific Hotel Corporation on ways to increase tourism, particularly at traditional South Island resorts. Sir Peter said he would like to get permission to fly the smaller, 70 seat version of the 146 to service tourism facilities at Mt Cook.

Sir Peter told journalists that a partial buy-in by an international airline was also “absolutely on the cards. ” But he added that Ansett NZ was not yet at that stage, partly because of pressure in the domestic environment and disarray in the global airline industry. “We had some very well-to-do companies approaching us,” Sir Peter said

Meanwhile,Ansett NZ and Air New Zealand continue the battle for passengers by announcing cut price fares on evening domestic flights. Air New Zealand declared savings of up to 53% between Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin. Ansett followed the same day. Air New Zealand’s fares applied on departures after 7. 25pm, an Auckland/Christchurch evening fare costing $NZ159, as against a $NZ314 full price fare.

Rnzaf Jet Pilots Restricted

RNZAF jet pilots are graduating to Skyhawk fighters without the desirable levels of expertise because of severe restrictions imposed on Strikemaster jets.

The aging trainers have had almost a third of their air capability slashed to extend flying hours and preserve safety standards, while NZ Government members and civil servants are reviewing the $NZ 266 million purchase of 18 Aeromacchi MB. 339 trainers intended to replace the Strikemasters.

According to senior air staff officer Group Captain Jim Barclay, the Strikemaster air capability had been reduced from 6g to 4. 5g. Group Captain Barclay said Strikemaster pilots were forbidden to perform spin and flick maneuvers. Also, flying has been limited in turbulent weather and the jets have had to be fitted with drop tanks, which resulted in less fatigue to the wings. But each sortie costs more in fuel. Most Strikemasters have an inspection patch of tape covering drill holes in the wings where fatigue cracks are observed after every 20 hours of flying time. Group Captain Barclay said there were no safety worries

Loss and Gains for NZ Travellers.

New Zealand has just lost its weekly link with Thai Airways International, though the aviation and tourism industries are looking forward to United Airlines increasing its flight here from seven weekly to ten from August.

Thai hopes the suspension of flights to Auckland from Bangkok will be temporary. The airline, which earlier dropped Christchurch from its route structure (as BritishAirways has also done) says higher fuel charges was the main reason for its decision to drop Auckland. On the credit side, United’s New Zealand director, Wayne Dodge, says the Los Angeles/Auckland/ Melbourne services would be part of a considerable expansion of the Pacific route network, using mainly 747-700s. Last year United’s Pacific (including Asia) business improved 32%.

Historic Plane for NZ?

The single engined Percival Gull that New Zealander Jean Batten flew from Britain to New Zealand in 1936 could be back here permanently by 1993. The aircraft, insured for $NZ330,000, has been on display in a special building at Auckland Airport’s international terminal. It is now back at England’s Shuttleworth Collection air museum. Last year the airport company tried to buy the 56 year old plane but the museum declined. The airports’s chief executive, John Goulter, believes the company will do a deal “within a couple of years. ”

After the 1936 England/NZ flight the Percival Gull fell into disrepair. It was restored by the Shuttleworth Museum with financial help from the Hunting Group, the successor to the original Percival Aircraft company which originally built it.

Jean Batten, who set four records in this aircraft, took eight days to fly from southern England to Sydney (Richmond) and 9hrs 29 minutes from Richmond to New Plymouth, North Island, in 1936.

Prizes for Australians in NZ Air Race

Fourteen Australian crews took part in the 4,000km Air BP Race Around New Zealand in February, winning six prizes in all. Ten of the Australian crews flew their machines across the Tasman, the rest hired aircraft in NZ. There were ten crews from NSW and one each from Queensland, Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia.

More than 100 aircraft were involved in the race; weather forced the cancellation of two legs. The oldest aircraft was a 60 year old Gipsy Moth flown by Gerald Grocott, a New Zealander based in Switzerland. This aircraft was one of two forced to withdraw, another was disqualified.

Tony Burn, the chief race organiser, who took part in the 1988 Round Australia Air Race, told Australian Aviation at the race’s end: “We modelled it very much on the 1988 race, which several of us took part in. Six warbird aircraft joined us on the last three days. There was a Spitfire, a Sea Fury, a T-28 Trojan T28 trainer and three North American Harvards. We had no accidents or mishaps of a serious nature. ”

One Australian pilot who created special interest was Dave McDonald of NSW (Beechcraft Baron 36). He holds the transAustralia single engine nonstop (Carnarvon/Coolangatta) record of 13hrs 24mins. Another pilot with lots of experience was one time Air New Zealand pilot Jim Pavitt, now a GulfAir 767 captain. Jim left Bahrain soon after Scud missiles from Iraq hit settlements 30km from his home. Two US crews also took part as well as one from the British Isles. One American was Californian Phil Reames, aged 72. Less than two hours before the race start, his Cessna 182, shipped out for the race, still had not arrived at the start line. The race ended a day early after bad weather struck while entrants made for the New Plymouth finish line.

Other Australians who entered their own aircraft in the Air BP race are Alex Macarthur (Piper Seneca), Dallas Durreen (Bonanza V35); Graeme Mathieson (Mooney); and David Knight (Comanche), all from NSW. Australians who hired NZ aircraft were Bruce Connell (Cessna 177RG), Cyril Lewis (Piper PA28 200); Ron McLintock (CessnaHawk XP) and Alan Raphael (Cessna 1708). All are from NSW