Post by Dave Homewood on Sept 23, 2009 18:15:27 GMT 12
Wings and Wheels Over Waikato organiser lays blame on airport
By AARON LEAMAN -
Waikato Times Last updated 12:07 23/09/2009
Attempts by Hamilton International Airport to make "drastic changes" to the Wings and Wheels Over Waikato air show only months before the event caused its organiser major problems.
Defence counsel Andrew Speed yesterday made the claim at a defended hearing for air show organiser Kenneth James Ross at the Hamilton District Court.
Ross faces 133 charges, including 119 charges laid under the Fair Trading Act and 14 criminal fraud charges relating to the failed air show.
The charges allege Ross, 61, made false or misleading statements in an air show proposal to Hamilton International Airport and attempted to deceive the public in a brochure promoting the event.
In evidence yesterday, Simon Hollinger, the airport's operations manager, said that fewer than five months before the event, a "pragmatic" decision was made to move the air show from the western side of the runway to the eastern side. The decision was made at a meeting between key parties on October 26, 2007.
Ross did not attend the meeting but was informed of the changes, in writing, by Mr Hollinger about two weeks later.
The court heard that the move came against a backdrop of concerns from airport tenants about the air show with one tenant allegedly seeking $100,000 compensation.
Mr Hollinger said the decision was reached in consultation with key groups, including the New Zealand Warbirds Association which was contracted to fly at the event.
The air show was originally to be held at the airport from March 7-9 last year but was postponed by Ross to February this year after selling about $600,000 in tickets. It never happened.
Mr Hollinger said the runway's western side was suitable for the initial air show proposal pitched by Ross but became unsuitable after the event was promoted as a "major international event" with spectator numbers in excess of 20,000.
Under cross-examination, Mr Hollinger said Ross later agreed to the move at a meeting on November 27 a claim Ross firmly denies.
When asked if airport management were pressured by airport tenants to move the air show, Mr Hollinger said tenants had expressed concerns about the event.
He declined to confirm whether an airport tenant had sought $100,000 compensation.
Mr Speed told the court the proposed change caused Ross "major operational difficulties" and led him to lose faith in Mr Hollinger.
Mr Speed said airport management never intended to negotiate with Ross but instead were focused on forcing the change "come hell or high water".
"For anyone trying to organise an event with 50,000 people potentially, over two days, (with the) New Zealand Air Force, foreign air force, Warbirds, dealing with police, co-ordinating all these things, it must have been extremely difficult to put anything in place when you keep changing the ground rules," Mr Speed told Mr Hollinger.
Mr Hollinger said the airport had previously held an airshow on the eastern side, describing it as "enormously successful logistically".
He could not confirm if the event was financially successful.
The hearing continues.
www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/news/2893409/Wings-and-Wheels-Over-Waikato-organiser-lays-blame-on-airport
By AARON LEAMAN -
Waikato Times Last updated 12:07 23/09/2009
Attempts by Hamilton International Airport to make "drastic changes" to the Wings and Wheels Over Waikato air show only months before the event caused its organiser major problems.
Defence counsel Andrew Speed yesterday made the claim at a defended hearing for air show organiser Kenneth James Ross at the Hamilton District Court.
Ross faces 133 charges, including 119 charges laid under the Fair Trading Act and 14 criminal fraud charges relating to the failed air show.
The charges allege Ross, 61, made false or misleading statements in an air show proposal to Hamilton International Airport and attempted to deceive the public in a brochure promoting the event.
In evidence yesterday, Simon Hollinger, the airport's operations manager, said that fewer than five months before the event, a "pragmatic" decision was made to move the air show from the western side of the runway to the eastern side. The decision was made at a meeting between key parties on October 26, 2007.
Ross did not attend the meeting but was informed of the changes, in writing, by Mr Hollinger about two weeks later.
The court heard that the move came against a backdrop of concerns from airport tenants about the air show with one tenant allegedly seeking $100,000 compensation.
Mr Hollinger said the decision was reached in consultation with key groups, including the New Zealand Warbirds Association which was contracted to fly at the event.
The air show was originally to be held at the airport from March 7-9 last year but was postponed by Ross to February this year after selling about $600,000 in tickets. It never happened.
Mr Hollinger said the runway's western side was suitable for the initial air show proposal pitched by Ross but became unsuitable after the event was promoted as a "major international event" with spectator numbers in excess of 20,000.
Under cross-examination, Mr Hollinger said Ross later agreed to the move at a meeting on November 27 a claim Ross firmly denies.
When asked if airport management were pressured by airport tenants to move the air show, Mr Hollinger said tenants had expressed concerns about the event.
He declined to confirm whether an airport tenant had sought $100,000 compensation.
Mr Speed told the court the proposed change caused Ross "major operational difficulties" and led him to lose faith in Mr Hollinger.
Mr Speed said airport management never intended to negotiate with Ross but instead were focused on forcing the change "come hell or high water".
"For anyone trying to organise an event with 50,000 people potentially, over two days, (with the) New Zealand Air Force, foreign air force, Warbirds, dealing with police, co-ordinating all these things, it must have been extremely difficult to put anything in place when you keep changing the ground rules," Mr Speed told Mr Hollinger.
Mr Hollinger said the airport had previously held an airshow on the eastern side, describing it as "enormously successful logistically".
He could not confirm if the event was financially successful.
The hearing continues.
www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/news/2893409/Wings-and-Wheels-Over-Waikato-organiser-lays-blame-on-airport
