Crisis at the Airport

Like a bolt from the blue last month officialdom in the shape of the Civil Aviation Department cracked down on Nelson Airport, imposing restrictions on N.A.C. aircraft until obstructions at each end of the sealed runway were removed. The restrictions were so severe that N.A.C. withdrew all Friendship services and had to limit payloads on the DC3's that replaced them. Prompt action by the city council's engineering staff and the co-operation of landowners affected, soon saw the removal of the obstructions and with them the restrictions.

Not for one minute do we say that obstructions which could cost life should not be cleared, but we do, with many others, protest at then procedure adopted by the department. A survey of the airfield was made a year previously, but the airport authority knew nothing of the obstructions until the restrictions were imposed. Nett result was a lot of grief for everyone and a loss of revenue for N.A.C. This could easily be avoided in future by a closer liaison between the department and airport authorities, and an alteration of the system which at present precludes the department from notifying authorities of the likely danger of obstructions before the restrictions are imposed.

×

 

• 

Most of the obstructions were on property at Monaco, and they can be seen in this picture on the horizon as officials pinpoint them

×

 

• 

Several trees at the northern end of the field, including the two small ones at extreme right, were removed or topped after Geoff Toynbee, assistant engineer to the city council, and Messrs E. Kippenberger and E. O'Halloran, department experts, identified them.