New Zealand News

Wigram has been associated with aviation since 1915; it was at this airfield that the Southern Cross landed with Sir Charles Kingsford Smith and Charles Ulm in September 1928, to create history by being the first aircraft to span the Tasman. That epic flight took 14hrs 25mins.

Wigram’s most senior air force officer, Group Captain Gordon Wood, said the flying training wing comprised about 250 people plus an additional 84 in the engineering squadron. They service CT-4B Airtrainers, Bell UH-10 Iroquois and Sioux helicopters. The transfer of flying training would affect about 400 jobs at Wigram. The two ground training schools, with a staff of about 35, graduate 400 to 500 students a year. Group Captain Wood believed Wigram staff numbers – at present close to 900-would fall to about 350 in less than three years.

Wigram also has three F27 Friendships for navigation training and it is expected that they too will stop operating from Wigram by the year’s end. Their use for air medical evacuations would also cease with their departure. The Friendships’ fate also depends on the outcome of a trans-Tasman study of navigation training.

As a result of the Budget,defence spending will be cut $NZ112m in the year to next March with $NZ300m in cuts by 1994. New Zealand’s new Secretary of Defence, Gerald Hensley, says the restructuring of defence bases represents a shift of military resources “from the tail to the teeth. ”

Air Nz’s New Profit Forecast

Air New Zealand has firmed up on the profit forecast it made in June with a prediction that it will make an $NZ85m profit in the year to next June and pay an 8 cent a share dividend.

The forecast, made in the prospectus issued to support the company’s $NZ140m one for two cash issue, is based on revenue growth of 12%. If Air New Zealand does meet the target the result will represent a $NZ105m turnaround on the year to last March. The profit forecast is broadly in line with analysts’ predictions.

In the prospectus, the chairman, Bob Matthew, says the cash issue is being made against a background of a $NZ22m decline in shareholders’ funds during the 12 months ended 31 March, with the $NZ140m being raised “to optimise a range of forthcoming events and opportunities. ”

Brierley Investments, which owns 35% of Air New Zealand, and Qantas (19. 9%) have said they will subscribe to the issue.

Cracks Groundair Force Jets

Fatigue cracks – not visible to the naked eye – caused the Royal New Zealand Air Force’s 14 ageing Strikemaster jet trainers to be grounded. The no flying order came after cracks were found in the fuselages of five jets.

The aircraft, stationed at Ohakea (lower North Island), were grounded after cracks, some 2. 5cm long, were found between the fuselage and wing while the jets were being serviced at Hamilton (upper North Island) by Pacific Aerospace. At Ohakea air force base, the base commander, Group Captain Rick Bulger said the discovery of the cracks may have prevented a catastrophe. If the cracks had not been detected and the jet trainers remained flying, “eventually the wing would probably have dropped off, ” said Commander Bulger. The subsonic Strikemasters bought 19 years ago, were first grounded in 1985 when cracks were found in the wing attachment assemblies.

A Defence spokesman, Major Alan Johnson, said the jets were coming to the end of their structural life. “The Strikemaster is becoming increasingly difficult to maintain. ” The type is progressively being replaced by the new Aermacchi 339 jet trainer.

The RNZAF is acquiring 18 of the Italian jets, at a cost of $NZ266m, but has only four presently in service (refer p. 37 July 91 AA). An air force source said the Strikemasters were still the major jet trainer in the RNZAF and it would be late next year or early 1993 before their were enough Aermacchis to cater for a “wings” training course. Consequently the RNZAF might decide to seek an accelerated delivery program for the Aermacchis. The RNZAF is also presently engaged with the Royal Australian Air Force in a study of shared flying training.

Following extensive investigations, the nine Strikemasters not found to have fatigue cracks were allowed to be used for training duties.

Airways Corporation Challenged

An Auckland aviation consultant has made submissions to a parliamentary select committee challenging the way the Airways corporation let a contract. The consultant, Mr Robin Soar, represented companies which missed out on a tender offered by the Corporation.

The matter involves an inquiry into a calibration flight unit contract, let by the Corporation to the Australian Civil Aviation Authority. Parliament’s communications and road safety committee launched the inquiry after MPs heard complaints about the way the tender was handled.

In a written submission, Mr Soar said he had been embarrassed by the deteriorating reputation of New Zealand civil aviation, particularly in regard to the Airways Corporation.

“I have been asked questions concerning corruption which I thought never to have crossed the minds of people in New Zealand. I have always defended Airways as the thought of corruption is an anathema to me but I have to admit that the attitudes, conduct and actions of Airways may lead people to disregard my defence. ”

Mr Soar said there was a need for a close look to be taken at the organisation “if New Zealand civil aviation is not to suffer. ” Mr Soar was involved with a bid by US firm, Aviation Systems, for the calibration contract.

Tab for Airport

Passengers at Auckland Airport will soon be able to kiss goodbye to their relatives and their spare cash at the same time. Spotless Catering Services wants to open a TAB sub-agency in Pearse’s Cocktail Bar in the domestic terminal.

A spokesperson for Spotless said the service was intended to be used by people who work at the airport as well as travellers. The airport employs 7,500 people. Last year the domestic terminal handled close to 2. 5 million passengers. If the Auckland airport TAB is a success, Wellington and Christchurch international airports might also get TAB outlets.

Minister in Hot Water Over Airborne Phone Call

The Minister of Police, John Banks, who used a mobile phone while on a commercial flight, has offered to resign from Cabinet after being summoned to appear in court on a charge of breaching Civil Aviation regulations.

The offence carries a maximum penalty of either six months in prison or a $NZ1,000 fine. The charge relates to a mobile phone call Mr Banks, a pilot with 25 years experience, responded to while a passenger on an Ansett New Zealand flight from Palmerston North (lower North Island) to Wellington on 9 July. The minister’s senior police adviser, Inspector Emmett Sharkey, who was travelling with him, has been charged with the same offence.

Mr Banks’ offer to resign from Cabinet was rejected hours later by the Prime Minister, Mr Jim Bolger. The Prime Minister said the police were in no way involved in the investigation into the matter and were not connected with the prosecution. The charge has been brought by the director of Civil Aviation Safety, Mr Roger Dalziel!.

The case is a precedent setter; the cabinet minister and the police inspector are the first to be prosecuted for breaching Civil Aviation regulations by using a mobile phone on a flight.

Mr Banks apologised shortly after using the mobile phone on an aircraft; it appears one of the minister’s staff failed to turn off the phone and when a radio reporter called, the phone was passed to Mr Banks who said, “We are ten miles south of Palmerston now at 11,000ft, climbing to 12. ”

Preflight safety briefings by cabin crew conclude with a warning that use of mobile phones on aircraft is prohibited. The ban on cellular phones was imposed by the International Civil Aviation Organisation, of which New Zealand is a member, after a fatal air accident in the US.

It is believed cellular phones distort the signals received by aircraft radio navigational equipment. The signal from such a phone at high altitudes also intrudes on other cellular phones.

Admitting he should not have used the mobile phone on a flight, Mr Banks said: ” I am prepared to take any medicine that comes my way. ”

Airport Thieves Strike

Police at New Zealand’s biggest international airport, Auckland, are on the alert for international thieves preying on travellers. Police believe 12 Japanese tourists were victims of members of an overseas crime ring.

The look-out warning at Auckland followed information from Australian police that gangs of modern South American bandits specialising in stealing travellers’ baggage have been working at some Australian airports. Law enforcement agencies around the world have compiled a list of 700 members of the syndicate which they call the South American Crime Group.

Plain clothes and uniform patrols by police were increased but no crime group thief was arrested.

One of the Japanese at Auckland airport had tomato sauce squirted on his jacket to create a diversion. As the thief apologised for the “accident” and helped the victim clean up the mess, an accomplice escaped with his valuables. Several thousand dollars and cash were stolen from the Japanese. The thieves want mainly credit cards, cash or travellers’ cheques.

Women Muscleins On

Close to 1,000 women turned up to tow an Air New Zealand 7 4 7 at Auckland Airport but it took only 54 to move the jumbo jet 1 Om. The women were raising funds for Operation Disneyland.

About 400 under privileged children will fly with Air New Zealand to Disneyland. Well over $40,000 was raised – excluding the sponsorship money each women had been pledged.

Air NZ Gives Rival Free Plug

Air New Zealand has been giving its rival, Ansett New Zealand a free plug in a video on flights from Sydney to Christchurch.

The video, produced to help passengers with arrival procedures, shows travellers how to clear customs and immigration and where to check in for a domestic flight with Ansett. Air NZ National’s general manager, Norm Thompson, described the Ansett plug as “most embarrassing”. According to informed sources, the video was produced for Qantas.

Although Qantas has a 19. 9% share in Air New Zealand, it is apparently bound by a contract with Ansett which requires Qantas to promote Ansett on both sides of the Tasman as its “preferred domestic carrier. “