Passenger Plane Makes Flarepath Landing

Chronicle (Levin), 22 July 1948, Page 5

Passenger Plane Makes Flarepath Landing

Press Association )

(Per

CHRISTCHURCH, July 21. A Lodestar " aircraft of National Airways Corporation, carrying 11 passenger.s, landed beside the Ilare path at Harewood airport after dark this evening. It is believed to be the first time civilian aircraft on a regular trip has had to land there with passengers after dark. The trip south was begun • on schedule at 2.20 p.m. and- when the aircraft was beyond Oamaru the weather deteriorated and the eommander deeided to turn back. As soon as this advice was received by radio at Harewood, arrangements for an emergeney landing were put in hand. A flare path of 800 yards was laid out with about 50 yards between each flare which was burning paraffin. Flames emerge from the top of a curved funnel from whieh the name "goose neek" flares is derived. It was practically dark when the Lodestar came over Har*wood but its landing path was marked elearly. The eommander landed down the single line of flares toward the eross bar of flares which formed a T. This indicated the quarter from which the wind was blowing. It was 5.35 p.m. when the aircraft touched down and after that there was little difference from the arrival of a regular daytime flight. The passengers showed little concern beyond disappointment that their trip to Dunedin had been delayed. ' Two earlier flights to Taieri had been cancelled because that airport was closed by weather. National Airways Corporation dispatehed 30 passengers south by Christchurch taxis. They were met at St. Andrews (South Canterburv) by Dunedin taxis and tbe passengers were transferred, persons bound for Harewood from Taieri also making their jourpey by road. No nortliern flights to Of ftom Hare.wood were affeeted, the ChristchiiTch airport remaining workable in spite of misty xain.