Today
marks the 30th birthday of Great Barrier Airlines. During the summer of 1982/83
Jim and Ruth Bergman explored the possibility of operating an air service to
Great Barrier Island. Jim Bergman first announced plans for the airline in the
Barrier Bulletin in February 1983…
Folks on the Barrier may
be interested in our future plans. Island Air Services has applied to the Air
Services Licencing Authority for an Air Service Certificate to allow the
following operations -
1. Air Charter/Taxi flights from the Great
Barrier Island.
2. Scenic and joy riding flights from
Great Barrier.
3 To operate a Non-Scheduled timetabled
Air Service between the Great Barrier Island and Auckland.
I am a retired Air New
Zealand Boeing 747 (Jumbo) pilot and Ruth is also a fully licenced multi-engine
rated commercial pilot. We feel there is a need and demand for an Island Air
Service operating from the Great Barrier Island.
Thank you.
Jim Bergman
At
this stage the Auckland Aero Club’s commercial division, New Zealand Air Charter,
were operating to the Island with a Partenavia and various single engine
aircraft while Sea Bee Air was operating an amphibian service to the Barrier
using with Grumman Widgeon and Grumman Goose aircraft. Meanwhile plans for a
new service continued including the establishment of Great Barrier Airlines Ltd.
The new company’s plans were outlined in a letter to the Great Barrier County
Council in September 1983…
Our Company has been
established with the specific purpose of providing a professionally run regular
daily air service between the Barrier Island and Auckland and Ardmore Airfields
on the Mainland. We intend to operate only to Claris Airfield and provide by a
Barrier Licence holder, a road transfer to and from Tryphena. Great Barrier
Airlines Limited have purchased for this service a de Havilland multi-engine;
nine passenger airliner ex the Royal Australian Flying Doctor Service of N.S.W.
The de Havilland "Drover" aircraft is undergoing a complete overhaul
in Auckland and will be ready for service by November 1983. The Island is at
present serviced by several Aero Clubs and Air Taxi Operators on an Air Taxi
basis, and by the Auckland Aero Club daily, with small single engine machines.
We however, are of the firm opinion that the time has arrived where the Island
population deserves a Commercial multi-engine airline service that will
increase safety standards and operate a daily, on time schedule. The ability to
carry large freight consignments both to and from the Island and be able to
load large items which may be required urgently is also now a necessary Island
service. We studied the Islands requirements very thoroughly during the summer
of 82/83, and have spent the last eight months preparing for this service. The
major shareholding in Great Barrier Airlines Limited is held by my wife Ruth
and myself. We are both Professional Pilots with multi-engine ratings and we
intend in the main, to fly the service ourselves. It is our intention once the
airline is established, to build on our land at Kaitoki and to orientate the
airline to the Barrier with both ourselves and the aircraft spending a good deal of time on the Island. We have a
licence application before the Air Service Licencing Authority and we require
the granting of this licence to be able to commence our service. Under the
present regulations to obtain a licence such as we have applied for, we need to
prove a need. As such we would much appreciate it if you could write a letter
of support and indicate in what way you might utilise our service. Full details
of the services we plan to operate, are listed below.
Yours sincerely,
J S Bergman, Managing
Director
GREAT BARRIER AIRLINES
LIMITED
SERVICES TO BE PROVIDED
1. Daily
Air service with increased special flights at peak periods.
2. Special
Charters for freight or groups of passengers to or from the Island.
3. The
collection and delivery of freighted items on the Mainland between the
Airfields and Auckland. On the Barrier, between Claris and Tryphena.
4. To
carry overseas Tourists to the Island on day trips which include transfers, a
Safari and Lunch at a Lodge.
5. To
carry Domestic Tourists on a package trip which includes transfers, a night or
nights on the Barrier, a Safari and other activities.
6. To
provide a service for large urgent items.
7. To
provide an emergency service as requested.
8. To
provide a Barrier Scenic Flight for visitors.
9. To
build a passenger terminal at Claris.
10. To
provide an Air Service Professionally operated in all respects for the Barrier.
In
November 1983 the Great Barrier County Council gave consent to Great Barrier
Airlines to place a caravan and transportable building outside the Claris
Airfield gates for a period to end on the 30 June 1984 with the consent to be
reviewed at that time.
On
the 14th of November 1983 a letter was sent to Great Barrier Island ratepayers
detailing the service…
Our company is
commencing in December, a regular timetable air service for the Barrier. We
will be operating a De Havilland 'Drover' three engine airliner which is
configured for eight to nine passengers and a single engine Cessna three
passenger aircraft. Initially the service will be three times daily reducing to
once or twice daily as demand dictates during the off peak periods. After an
initial operating period, the timetable will be altered to overnight the
service on the Barrier at set times. We only fly to and from the Barrier and
intend to operate a regular on time service. Up to eleven seats are available
for each timetabled flight with the Cessna being used for up to three passengers.
Four to eight passengers will be carried in the Drover and from nine to eleven
passengers when both aircraft will be operated. You will notice that our fares
are competitive. We are making an introductory offer to all rate payers. If you
produce this letter when you buy a ticket we will give you the return trip
free. Also please note our permanent advance payment concession fare. Buy four
single sector tickets (ie: two return) and we will give you the 5th single
sector free. An effective 20% discount with no time limit on ticket use. Our
freight rates are very competitive and we will arrange pick-up and delivery on
the mainland as part of our service. Our master agent on the island is the
Tryphena Post Office, where a direct radio link is available to our Auckland
booking office.
Yours sincerely,
J. Bergman (MANAGER)
GREAT BARRIER AIRLINES
LTD
Flights
began on the 3rd of December 1983 with Jim Bergman flying the first service in
Cessna 172 ZK-DKH.
The
rest of the company’s 30 year history may be found in the following three posts.
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| The aircraft that flew the first flight, Cessna 172 ZK-DKH at Auckland on 6 August 1984 |
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| Timetable Number 1, effective 3 December 1983 |
Happy
Birthday Great Barrier Airlines!
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