New Air Charter Operator

Appearing on the Air Chathams' Facebook page is the news that they have launched an their own charter company Air Charter NZ.

Air Charter NZ was officially inaugurated in 2014, as the specialist charter operation of parent company Air Chatham’s Ltd. Air Chatham’s has been operating scheduled passenger and cargo operations since 1984. And during that time has engaged in charter flights on request to destinations in NZ, Australia and the South Pacific. Air Charter NZ is an Auckland based company that operates from a facility located at Auckland International Airport. From this facility both Air Chatham’s and Air Charter NZ have airline commercial, flight operations, and aircraft engineering capability. As well as the ability to accommodate tour parties arriving by coach service, and thus bypassing domestic terminal formalities. Air Charter NZ will work with clients to ensure the best possible charter for specific group requirements, utilising our diverse fleet of aircraft. Our charter rates are very competitive, and can be negotiated directly to meet your individual demands.

Charters are available using the Convairs, the Metroliner, the BN Islander and the Douglas DC-3 are available throughout New Zealand the Pacific. Speaking of the Pacific, Convair ZK-CIE returned from Tonga yesterday after providing extra capacity for Real Tonga. In particular the company is offering scenic flights with DC-3 ZK-AWP...

Representing some truly unique Kiwi history, our beloved DC-3 ZK-AWP is the only surviving RNZAF World War II veteran aircraft still operating today in front-line service. ZK-AWP was built in 1944 at Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA. The Oklahoma City factory was constructed to cope with wartime production in 1941, immediately post Pearl Harbour. With a wing span of 29m, length of 20m and height of almost 4.5m and powered by two Pratt and Whitney R-1830-92 engines with 1250 bhp each, it was ideally suited to military service. DC-3s operated comfortably into unpaved fields of 1000 metres or sometimes less, carrying a standard load of three tons and featuring a range of 1200 nautical miles. With its delivery crew ZK-AWP left its "birthplace" at Oklahoma City, USA in April 1945 - on the day the Red Army overran the German High Command in Berlin - and flew to Hamilton, New Zealand. From May that year it became RNZAF Dakota NZ3543 and was assigned to 41 Squadron RNZAF until 1952. In 1952 it was handed over as NZ3543 at Whenuapai to New Zealand National Airways Corporation. It entered service on the 2nd of April 1953, clocking up 10 hours and 20 minutes on the first day. Now 69 years later, ZK-AWP remains in commercial service with Air Chathams Limited and represents a very important part of Kiwi history and today you can relive this magical historical flying experience. From our base at Auckland International Airport, ZK-AWP is available for a full range of charter services, as well as sightseeing flights where our customers can enjoy the magic of this wonderful aircraft in and around the spectacular scenery of the Hauraki Gulf & Coromandel Peninsula.

For details on the DC-3 scenics see : http://www.aircharternz.co.nz/#!dc3-scenic-flight/c1dru