Post by Dave Homewood on Aug 16, 2024 22:18:50 GMT 12
Is there still an active airfield at Pines Beach, Kaiapoi? I cannot see anything on Google satellite view. This is from The Press, 2 January 1969. Neat to see two of the first users were Bryan Cox and his wife Wynn:
Airfield In Use At Pines Beach
Three Cessna and one Tri-Pacer aircraft landed beside the Pines Beach lagoon on Tuesday afternoon after a north-south runway of 2500 ft had been formed by the Kaiapoi Borough Council and Burnetts Industries (North Canterbury), Ltd.
The salt flat, north of the populated area, is part of a domain administered by the council.
The Mayor of Kaiapoi (Mr H. O. Hills) said yesterday that permission to use the airfield had been granted to the Christchurch Central Flying School, Ltd. and the Canterbury Aero Club for three months as a trial, and it was expected that a permanent airport would be established. It is hoped to offer scenic trips for visitors to the scout jamboree at Kaiapoi.
The assistant chief instructor for the Christchurch Central Flying School, Ltd (Mr J. E. Jones), said that the school was helping the council to develop the airfield, which would be used for pilot flight training and commercial trips.
An officer of the Civil Aviation Division of the Ministry of Transport would visit the field today before commercial trips begin. It is planned to develop two more runways. A cross-wind from the north-east on Tuesday caused no difficulty in landings.
One of those who used the airfield on Tuesday was Miss Rachel Ronaldson, a sister at the Green Lane Hospital heart clinic. Miss Ronaldson is visiting her parents in Christchurch and will fly back to Auckland on Sunday. Her passengers on Tuesday were the managing director of the Manakau Flying School (Mr B. Cox) and Mrs Cox. The flyng time from Auckland was four hours and a half, and the invitation to land at the new field was received two minutes before arrival. Mr Cox said that the field seemed ideally situated for use by light aircraft, without interfering with Christchurch Airport. It was handy to the coastal air training area off the mouth of the Waimakariri River.
Airfield In Use At Pines Beach
Three Cessna and one Tri-Pacer aircraft landed beside the Pines Beach lagoon on Tuesday afternoon after a north-south runway of 2500 ft had been formed by the Kaiapoi Borough Council and Burnetts Industries (North Canterbury), Ltd.
The salt flat, north of the populated area, is part of a domain administered by the council.
The Mayor of Kaiapoi (Mr H. O. Hills) said yesterday that permission to use the airfield had been granted to the Christchurch Central Flying School, Ltd. and the Canterbury Aero Club for three months as a trial, and it was expected that a permanent airport would be established. It is hoped to offer scenic trips for visitors to the scout jamboree at Kaiapoi.
The assistant chief instructor for the Christchurch Central Flying School, Ltd (Mr J. E. Jones), said that the school was helping the council to develop the airfield, which would be used for pilot flight training and commercial trips.
An officer of the Civil Aviation Division of the Ministry of Transport would visit the field today before commercial trips begin. It is planned to develop two more runways. A cross-wind from the north-east on Tuesday caused no difficulty in landings.
One of those who used the airfield on Tuesday was Miss Rachel Ronaldson, a sister at the Green Lane Hospital heart clinic. Miss Ronaldson is visiting her parents in Christchurch and will fly back to Auckland on Sunday. Her passengers on Tuesday were the managing director of the Manakau Flying School (Mr B. Cox) and Mrs Cox. The flyng time from Auckland was four hours and a half, and the invitation to land at the new field was received two minutes before arrival. Mr Cox said that the field seemed ideally situated for use by light aircraft, without interfering with Christchurch Airport. It was handy to the coastal air training area off the mouth of the Waimakariri River.
