Increase In Aero Clubs’ Flying Hours Last Year

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31116, 20 July 1966, Page 14

Increase In Aero Clubs’ Flying Hours Last Year

Aero clubs’ flying hours rose by 1347 in the year ended March 31. The total was 79,655 hours, compared with 78,308 in the previous 12 months. “An increase in hours flown does not necessarily lead to financial success, but it does emphasise the indispensable role of clubs in aviation in New Zealand,” says the president of the Royal New Zealand Aero Club (Mr B. A. Johns) in his annual report. “A deficit of £194 for the year reflects generally increased activity in the affairs of the club,” Mr Johns says. In training and pleasure flying, 19 accidents were reported, compared with 26 in the previous year. Two accidents involved the deaths of the two pilots and one passenger.

In the aero clubs’ commercial operations there were two accidents, one being fatal. “However, in this case the accident occurred after the fare-paying passenger had disembarked," he says.

“The over-all accident rate was 3.15 a 10,000 hours, compared with four in the previous year. While this is an encouraging downward trend, it is no cause for complacency.” According to the report,

the figures of 79,655 flying hours comprised: aerial work, 1460; taxi and charter, 3706; local flying, 2398; dual training, 23,275; solo training and hire, 48,816. More Licences More current flying licences are reported. Including those through the four flying schools as well as the aero clubs, student licences increased from 1894 to 2238, and private pilots’ licences from 1918 to 1975. There were 1143 pilots under training, 136 more than in the previous 12 months. Club membership fell from 8080 to 7650. "In the smaller country centres away from larger populations, many clubs are facing grave difficulties,” Mr Johns says. “In addition to the severe shortage of instructors, the costs of obtaining and retaining suitable staff are sometimes beyond their ability, and some special attention and assistance are required for such clubs if they are to be maintained in a healthy state. “Some clubs have the greatest difficulty in obtaining import licences for other replacement aircraft. While control of overseas currency is necessary, essential community services and training operations must not be curtailed,” he says.