CHARTER FOR TWO

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31093, 23 June 1966, Page 1

CHARTER FOR TWO

Flight From Chathams A Bluff fisherman, Mr G. A. Blaikie, has chartered a National Airways Corporation DC3 to bring two fishermen from the Chatham Islands to Christchurch on Sunday. They will be the only passengers on the flight, which is estimated to cost in excess of £3OO. Mr Blaikie is the owner of the crayfishing vessel, Kingfisher, which should arrive at the Chatbams tomorrow to begin 10 weeks’ fishing. Under Marine Department regulations the vessel must have a crew of five on its voyage from Bluff to the Chathams, but once there a crew of three is sufficient Because of this Mr Blaikie has chartered the DC3.

The plane will leave Christchurch about 5 a.m. on Sunday for the Chathams and it is due back that night. Normally a DC3 carries 26 passengers but for the flight on Sunday the cabin will contain only 14 seats. The balance of the payload will be taken up with ancillary equipment

The deputy branch manager of N.AC. in Christchurch (Mr J. Glasson) said it was the first time for many years that anyone had chartered an N.A.C. plane to the Chathams. “Certainly we've never flown a plane that distance just to dfrry two persons," he said.