New Zealand News

Review Aims To Simplify International Airservices Regulation

A review of New Zealand’s 1947 International Air Services Licensing act has recommended streamlining and simplifying current arrangements, and encouraging increased competition in addition to allowing freer access to international airlines. The review proposes that the allocation of traffic rights continue to be made by the Minister of Transport, but in accordance with fewer and more straightforward guidelines, recognising that administration of the current act has “become cumbersome and time consuming”. The review suggests removing the substantial number of criteria the minister must currently take into account down to: regard to government policy on the ownership and control of airlines seeking rights; that the services proposed not be contrary to relevant bilateral and international agreements; safety and security; the financial ability of the airline to carry out the proposed services; and other matters the minister considers relevant.

The report recognises that a completely deregulated open skies policy is not viable. Aside from it not being possible to do away with all economic regulation while air traffic rights continue to be traded by bilateral government to government arrangements, the report says the strength of international carriers competing on their own terms could “leave a New Zealand carrier completely locked out of the market…. The likely result could be the collapse of the New Zealand airline and the demise or substantial reduction of competition on many routes.” Interestingly it rejects the establishment of a separate body, such as Australia’s International Air Services Commission, as it would involve “setting up a new and costly bureaucratic structure and attendant procedures, which would appear not to meet the objectives of a simplified system and administrative efficiency in the New Zealand situation.”

Hamilton based Midland Health/Trust Bank’s recently delivered Bell 222EMS helicopter. (Richard Kuluz) Australian Aviation July 1995

Air Safety Conference For Auckland

The New Zealand Civil Aviation Authority plans to host an International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) conference on global flight safety and human factors during April 1996. The symposium is expected to attract 250 of the world’s top aviation safety experts to Auckland, who will look at methods of reducing the 80% of aircraft accidents that are attributed to human error. The conference would specifically look at translating scientific principles into practical application. Co-sponsors of the conference are Air New Zealand, Ansett New Zealand, The Airways Corporation and Massey University.

$Nz2 Levy For International Passengers

From July 1 connecting international passengers will no longer be exempt from the $NZ2 levy on domestic flights. The NZ CAA said that international passengers on connecting domestic flights would have to pay the levy, in the interests of fairness. The levy on domestic passengers already provides $NZ7m of the CAA’s $NZ12.8m budget, and broadening it to encompass overseas bound or returning passengers on domestic connecting flights would net the authority an extra$NZ800,000 per annum. The CAA says the extra funding will help provide extra staff and safety projects. Removing the international exemption also meant that an increase in the levy was not necessary.

Orion Wing Contract Signed

The New Zealand Ministry of Defence has signed a $NZ71m contract with Lockheed Martin for new wings and horizontal stabilisers of the RNZAF’s ageing P-3K Orion fleet. Lockheed has subcontracted the actual wing construction work to Daewoo of South Korea and Jetstream in the UK. Contracts for who will actually fit the wings to the aircraft are scheduled to be let later this year. The rewinged aircraft will be redelivered between mid 1997 and 2000. The RNZAF’s P-3Ks have averaged more than 14,000 flying hours each, and they have more fatigue damage than any other Orion fleet worldwide. The new wings should extend the airframes’ service life by at least 20 years.

Flight Attendants Strike

Air New Zealand’s domestic flight attendants have voted for a round of rolling strikes as part of a pay dispute with the airline. The strikes affect 240 Air New Zealand flight attendants (members of the Flight Attendants and Related Services Association) with Christchurch based flight attendants striking on May 31, Wellington based FAs on June 1 and Auckland based FAs on June 2. The flight attendants union said its aim was to cause some disruption to Air New Zealand while minimising the impact on the travelling public. The flight attendants voted to strike in an anonymous ballot after rejecting an Air New Zealand offer which comprised a one off bonus payment equivalent to 5% of their annual wage, followed by a 2% rise halfway through the proposed two year employment contract.

Fiji Threatens Nz Bilaterals

Fiji’s government has warned that if it does not gain similar air traffic rights for Air Pacific that are currently enjoyed by Air New Zealand then it may terminate the two countries’ bilateral air services agreement. Fiji made the threat after failing to secure in negotiations with Wellington what it considered “a fair and equitable” agreement. As part of the interim arrangement signed between the two countries late last year, either may issue a notice of termination. Fiji says it may consider doing this as a last resort.

Briefs

Florida based Specialty Aircraft Construction has relocated its operations to Christchurch, where in co-operation with the Alpine Fighter Collection, it will restore to static and airworthy condition various WW2 German aircraft.

The RNZAF has painted a second Airtrainer in a trial high visibility paint scheme, this time in black. Late last year an Airtrainer was painted yellow (refer pic p83, Mar ’95 AA). A third Airtrainer will be painted all over white, and a fourth red. The colours are being trialled to improve the aircraft’s visibility, with a decision on which scheme is to be adopted due toward the end of the year.

Ansett New Zealand has added an additional Dash 8 service to Palmerston North from Christchurch each week. The new flight arrives in Palmerston Friday evening and returns Saturday morning.