New Guinea's Dc3 Aircraft

ration Feet-on-the-Ground

Unsafe For The Duke

Papua-New Guinea folk were amused to learn during the month at although they were a “calculated risk” .when it come to flying into e Highlands in DC3 aircraft, these planes were too chancy for the like of Edinburgh and that is why he was not visiting the Territory’s ost interesting area.

INDREDS of people each week ise the DC3 “Milk Run” services n P-NG, undeterred by the fact f if the 2,000,000 th chance tuates and one engine fails on -off, they will crash.

J 3 aircraft on the Highland run allowed 26,200 lbs weight—7,ooo lore than is considered safe for Jty. The high-density, stripped [type of DC3 aircraft used in rerritory weighs 19,000 lbs be taking on fuel, crew or luggage, "obvious, therefore, that some [ else would have to be stripped ■ the Duke is to travel in what

the Civil Aviation authorities re gard as Royal safety.

And, as every traveller in NG knows, there is nothing much left to strip. All the usual amenities of air travel have gone long since.

If it is only the safety factor that is keeping the Duke out of the Highlands, no one will regret it more than the Duke.

At the same time, local CA authorities cannot be blamed for not encouraging His Royal Highness to take risks that would be tabu in the UK.

Australian officials who are in charge of the Duke’s tour were to descend on P-NG in early August.

For a simple, “unofficial” visit, there seemed to be an impressive array of talent. Two Directors of the Royal Tour, a Public Relations Officer, a transport officer of the Department of Supply and an official of the Department of Civil Aviation.

They will visit Port Moresby, Bulolo, Lae, Rabaul and Momote.

It is rumoured that the Duke will be staying two more days in the Territory than was originally an nounced.