DC3s Will Carry Fewer Passengers

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30956, 12 January 1966, Page 12

DC3s Will Carry Fewer Passengers

(New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, January 11. New weight restrictions to be placed on DC3 aircraft toward the end of this year will mean a reduction in the number of passengers over some routes operated by the National Airways Corporation.

The Department of Civil Aviation has produced a draft of a new regulation and this will be discussed with N.AC. and other operators. The flight operations manager of N.A.C., Captain A. C. Kenning, has already been studying the effect of the new restriction. It is understood that enforcement of the new regulation could reduce the number of passengers to 16 on a service between Nelson and Westport N.A.C. operates its DC3s up to a maximum all-up weight of 26,9001 b—more than is recommended by the International Civil Aviation Organisation, which comprises representatives of world governments. The effect of the proposed regulation will be to enforce the 1.C.A.0. requirement. The limitation is based on the single-engined performance of a DC3 and takes into account such factors as terrain en route, weather and temperatures. N.A.C. has been using DC3’s since the end of the war and at present has a fleet of about 15 passenger and freight machines. Other

users include Mt. Cook Air Services, Ltd., South Pacific Airlines of New Zealand, and some aerial topdressing firms.