31 October 2011

North Shore - Sunday

A lovely day in Auckland with a nor-easterly meant it was a good day to spend a couple of hours at North Shore... lots of traffic but just a couple of new ones but

De Havilland Tiger Moth ZK-AIA at North Shore on 30 October 2011. Photo : S Lowe
Robinson R44 Raven ZK-IDL at North Shore on 30 October 2011. Photo : S Lowe
Flying in from the Barrier was Great Barrier Airlines' BN Trislander ZK-LGF. It then flew empty to Auckland. Taken at North Shore on 30 October 2011. Photo : S Lowe
Mooney M20C ZK-MWP at North Shore on  at North Shore on 30 October 2011. Photo : S Lowe
Beech A36 Bonanza is such a grunty performer... taken at North Shore on 30 October 2011. Photo : S Lowe

30 October 2011

The Stewart Island air service - Amphibian Airways, the Original Operator



On the 1st of October 1951, Amphibian Airways began a regular air service to Stewart Island from Invercargill. Over the years the service has passed down from one operator to another and from an amphibian air service to a land-based air service. This post recalls the founding of the air service by Amphibian Airways. 

Following the Second World War there was interest in exploring the possibility of operating an amphibious air service from Invercargill to Stewart Island and also to provide a charter service for hunters and fishermen to the to the southern fiords, lakes, islands and beaches.

In 1950 a group of interested Invercargill men, including Arthur Hamilton, Fred Adams, Harry English and Arthur Duthie formed Amphibian Airways and set about importing the company’s first aircraft, Grumman G-44A Widgeon ZK-AVM (c/n 1466). The Widgeon, New Zealand’s first, arrived in the country in December 1950. The aircraft was made airworthy and flown to Invercargill in January 1951 and made its first visit to Stewart Island on the 4th of February 1951. Meanwhile the company, Amphibian Airways Ltd was registered on 27 February 1951 and its air service licence issued. The company officially started its charter operations on the 16th of March 1951 with Jim Monk being the first pilot.


Amphibian airways pilots, Messrs F Adams (left) and Jim Monk. Whites Aviation Ltd: Photographs. Ref: WA-26967-F. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/23070637


Amphibian Airways' Grumman Widgeon ZK-AVM at Queenstown.


The new company proved popular with hunters and fisherman as well as sightseers wishing to see the more remote and spectacular areas of Fiordland. The amphibian was also used to service the remote southern lighthouses as well as for air ambulance flights and search and rescue work.



On the 1st of October 1951 Amphibian Airways inaugurated a non-scheduled service between Invercargill and Stewart Island. R A Baird recorded in the Aviation Historical Society of New Zealand Journal of June 1961 that “the aircraft left Invercargill at 2.18pm and 25 minutes later the passengers were walking up the beach at Halfmoon Bay. The aircraft left again at 6.00pm for the Island, this time landing at Paterson’s Inlet, and returned to Invercargill at 6.50pm. It was a remarkable development for transport services to Stewart Island, when one takes into consideration that the trip by steamer takes three to four hours, not always in the kindest of weather.”




Amphibian Airways aircraft ZK-BAY on the beach at Oban, Stewart Island, September 1955.
Whites Aviation Ltd: Photographs. Ref: WA-39409-F. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/29941682


Amphibian Airways aircraft ZK-BAY on the beach, Stewart Island. Whites Aviation Ltd: Photographs. Ref: WA-39410-F. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/29946298

Amphibian Airways aircraft ZK-BAY on the beach, Stewart Island. Whites Aviation Ltd: Photographs. Ref: WA-39411-F. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/29947931


The company operated a schedule of six flights a week with two return flights being flown on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, with other flights being offered on demand. The holiday seasons were often busy with up to ten return flights a day being operated. Over the years the Stewart Island air service has passed down from one operator to another and from an amphibian air service to a land-based air service. It continues today operated by Stewart Island Flights.

Stewart Island timetable, effective December 1958

An early contributor to the development of the fledgling airline was the crayfish and fishing industries. The first cargo of crayfish tails was flown in November 1951 with the business growing to the extent that in one year Amphibian Airways flew 55 tonnes of crayfish tails to the mainland. The later development of mother ships with larger freezers reduced this business considerably.

With the need to maintain the Stewart Island service and with ZK-AVM requiring a new Certificate or Airworthiness the company needed a second aircraft. Accordingly Grumman G-44 Widgeon ZK-BAY (c/n 1362) was imported from the United States in 1952.

Amphibian Airways' second Widgeon ZK-BAY at Lake Te Anau in the 1950s. Photographer unknown.



Another regular service was to Puysegur Point lighthouse on the far southwest of the South Island which was the home of three married permanent lighthouse keepers. From 1953 Amphibian airways operated there every three weeks. Scientists, geologists and engineers flying into Fiordland were also an important part of the business.

The two Grumman Widgeons, from left, ZK-AVM and ZK-BAY at Oban, Stewart Island. Photo : Monk Collection

By 1960 the company was experiencing financial difficulties. Auckland-based Tourist Air Travel, which also operated Widgeons saw an opportunity for expansion and overtures were made to the struggling company. On the 25th of July 1961 Amphibian Airways’ chairman of directors, Arthur Hamilton, announced that the shareholders had accepted a take-over bid by NZ Tourist Air Travel Ltd. This company took over both Amphibian Airways’ Widgeons, the service to Stewart Island and charter work to the southern fiords, lakes, islands and beaches. With the change in ownership one aircraft was moved to Auckland leaving one based in Invercargill.

Amphibian Airways' Grumman Widgeons ZK-AVM and ZK-BAY at Invercargill, S Lowe Collection


Shortly before it was taken over, R A Baird wrote in the AHSNZ Journal, “All in all Amphibian Airways play an essential part in the progress of the southernmost part of New Zealand, whether it be transporting the tourist, scientist, hunter, engineer or sightseer. It is a service which cannot be discarded or forgotten.” All these years later it is right to remember the pioneer of air services to Stewart Island.

28 October 2011

air2there - A Caravan with a Difference


Noted yesterday flying Gisborne-Paraparaumu-Blenheim was Air Charter East Coast's Reims/Cessna F406 Caravan ZK-CEC with callsign Air2there 06.

Speaking of Paraparaumu, air2there have a counter in the new terminal but it did not seem used. On the far side of the airport ZK-MYH was at their old terminal.

26 October 2011

From the Register...

A few interesting bits and pieces from the New Zealand aircraft register...

South East Air's Piper Pa32 Cherokee 6 ZK-DIV which had a swim at Stewart Island earlier this year has been written off. (See http://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.com/2011/08/stewart-island-mishap.html). Photo taken at Ryans Creek on 13 April 2011 by F B Gavin

IAI 1124A Westwind ZK-RML has changed ownership from Air National to Airwork. Photographed at Wellington on 16 April 2009 by S Lowe

Another couple of odd balls...

Registered to Tekapo's Air Safaris is Robinson R44 ZK-HCO

Registered to Queenstown's Air Milford is Piper Pa18 Cub ZK-BTM

25 October 2011

Paraparaumu-Auckland Service Launched Today



Air New Zealand Link's new Paraparaumu-Auckland service began today. The services is being operated by Air Nelson using Bombardier Q300s. The first flight, NZ8490, which left Paraparaumu for Auckland at 0655, was operated by ZK-NES. The first flight into Paraparaumu, NZ8491, was operated by ZK-NEJ.





The flight south afforded magnificent views of the Volcanic Plateau, with Mount Ngauruhoe, Mount Tongariro and Mount Ruapehu looking stunning.






The weather at Paraparaumu wasn't so great - Kapiti Island appears out of the murk...





The new terminal is at the rear of the Helipro hangar. Air Nelson will operate 18 flights a week between Paraparaumu and Auckland.




More Auckland Wide Body Movements Yesterday

All photos taken at Auckland on 24 October 2011 by S Lowe

Singapore Airlines' Boeing 777-300 9V-SWA

Emirates' Boeing 777-300 A6-ECJ
Emirates' Airbus 380 A6-EDC
China Southern's Airbus 330 B-6528 in Skyteam colour scheme
LAN Chile's Airbus 340 CC-CQE

Thai International's Boeing 777-200 HS-TJU

Air New Zealand's Boeing 767-300 ZK-NCI

Air New Zealand's Boeing 777-200 ZK-OKB

Air New Zealand's Boeing 777-300 ZK-OKN