Aviation uplift for Condominium
pp. 61-63 · Read in the full issue
by Ian Mclntyre
The New Hebrides is set for an aviation uplift, and 1976 could well become •Aviation Year’ for the New Hebrides Condommmm. There has been an increase carrifrs r Tnd A V ir P a ‘ W ? eS,ab lt iSh n d a?rivat A J r ' l he arnval on the scene of a new earner, Atr This coupled with the long awaited approval to upgrade the airfield at Pekoa, Santo, the commissioning of new navigational aids and the current consideration being given to expanding Vila’s Bauerfield airport make for an exciting aviation year. And not to be overshadowed by the regional operators’ activity, the internal airline, Air Melanesiae, has increased its services, extended its routes and adopted a new colour scheme.
With the demise of the Polynesie and the reluctance of cruise ships to accept terminating passengers to and from the New
Hebrides, aviation has become a necessary rather than luxury transport. i„ keeping with this the Civil Aviation Administration is endeavouring to upgrade its facili,ies and 10 a >" a « ad ‘ ditional carriers w ho could offer a wider area of access to locals and visitors alike.
After many months of frustrating inac approval has finally been given by tbe j°‘ nt colonial powers France and Britain for the upgrading of the airfield or Luganville, Santo. All that is now awa ited to set the contractors in motion is the financial approval which both London and Paris have indicated is ‘on the way’, < )nce received, work will commence on covering the existing wartime-built strip with a 20cm layer of coral and sealing with bitum en to a length of 1900 metres.
This will enable all weather use by aircraft * n * be F 27, HS74B, DC4 and possibly class.
Plans are also underway to supplement
the existing navigational aid, a radio beacon, with ILS (Instrument Landing System) and VOR (Very Omni Range) equipment. It is hoped that Australia might help the New Hebrides with this equipment. Australia has given civil aviation aid to other Pacific countries in the form of airport equipment, fire tenders and DME (Distance Measuring equip ment) units.
During February UTA began special
flights between Santo and Magenta, New Caledonia, to carry freshly killed beef to the undersupplied Noumea Market. Using one of their two F 27 Fairchilds stripped for freight they are flying three return trips a week.
Bauerfield is also scheduled for upgrading. Submissions are with the two resident commissioners to enlarge the parking apron, extend the control tower facilities and increase the meteorological, radio and navigational aids. An extension of the runway is also being considered and a recent survey has indicated that it could be lengthened to a maximum 2400 meters. This would bring it up to
DCB/707 requirements.
The commissioning in January of DME and VOR units has greatly increased Vila’s navigation aids. Unfortunately due to its sighting between two ranges of hills necessitating a dog leg approach pattern it cannot be fitted with ILS, a needed aid for bad weather and poor visibility ap proaches. Weather in the past has caused a number of scheduled services to be can celled, aircraft to overfly or hold for con siderable lengths of time.
The present attitude of the Con dominium’s Civil Aviation Administration towards air rights or charter applications is one of receptiveness to any operator who can bring business and people to tourist starved New Hebrides. Ap plications, after local processing must still be submitted to London and Paris who are responsible for vetting the aircraft
registration, licencing of pilots and en
suring acceptable technical operation of aircraft used.
They are also the watchdogs of their respective interests of their nominated
carriers, Air Pacific and UTA as recent applicant Air Nauru has found out. Her application for rights to run Vila-Nauru- Vila sectors met with an enthusiastic local approval but was the subject of further discussions on the other side of the world.
The problem was the cheapness of the fares charged by Air Nauru on its on carriage routes out of Nauru.
Landing fees at Vila are amongst the cheapest in the Pacific. For aircraft under 25 tons it is 125 FNH (100 Francs New Hebrides - A 51.05) 26-75 tons 250 FNH and from 75 tons up 375 FNH per ton.
This converted in terms of aircraft curren
tly using Bauerfield is: BAC 1-1 1 (7375 FNH), F 27 (2500 FNH), and HS 748 (2625 FNH). A departure tax of 200 FNH (A 52.10) is levied on all departing international and regional passengers.
Other airstrips within the group have also been receiving attention. On Tanna a new terminal building with facilities has been opened at Burton field and on Malecolo a new airstrip capable of taking Air Melanesiae Trislander aircraft has been opened at Norsup. This brings to 1 5 the number of airstrips regularly serviced by the Britten-Norman Islanders and Trislanders of the internal air service.