Hastening Repairs At Whenuapai

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30959, 15 January 1966, Page 3

Hastening Repairs At Whenuapai

(From Our Own Reporter) WELLINGTON, January 14. Air Force and civil engineers have quickened improvement work on the runaway at Whenuapai Air Base.

Service officers said yesterday that landings by the British Overseas Airways Corporation’s Comet jet airliners on the runway had led to a considerable deterioration in the condition of the pavement. Civil airline flights were switched from Whenuapai to Mangere about two months ago and since then replacement of a number of the octagonal paving stones has been accelerated . Officers said the Air Force was using the old Whenuapai terminal building as an air movements centre. Soon after civil airline operators finish their threeday use of the building at the time of the official opening of the new international airport work is expected to begin on reorganising the internal lay-out of the terminal.

This will involve building crew lecture rooms, changing quarters and briefing rooms as well as other facilities. The No. 5 (Maritime) Squadron of the Air Force will move from Hobsonville to Whenuapai after it takes delivery of its five Orion reconnaissance aircraft later this year.

An Air Force officer said the Hobsonville base would probably be retained as a headquarters for the support helicopter unit and light aircraft.

Other units based at present at Whenuapai include the No. 3 Battlefield Support Squadron and No. 40 Transport Squadron.