Air Travel (NZ) Ltd
Encyclopedia
Air Travel Ltd was the first airline in New Zealand
to fly scheduled air services. Founded by Bert Mercer
in 1934, and based in Hokitika, the company flew a number of De Havilland
biplane aircraft, servicing areas on the West Coast. Mercer saw potential for a commercial air service in this region because there were no roads south of Ross
, and the residents therefore relied on steamers and bullock tracks for access to the outside world.
began flights into Hokitika. Eleven pilots flew for Air Travel (NZ) Ltd between 1934 and 1947.
, two Dragonflies
, a Dragon
, and a Dragon Rapide
, out of Hokitika's Southside Airfield, located on the south side of the Hokitika River
. The first flight undertaken by Air Travel was in the De Havilland Fox Moth ZK-ADI, which is still in use. As the service became popular, another Fox Moth, ZK-AEK, was brought into service in 1935. Other aircraft included Dragonfly ZK-AFB (1937), Fox Moth ZK-AGM (1938), Dragonfly ZK-AGP (1938), Dragon ZK-AHT (1944), and Dragon Rapide ZK-AHS (1944). Further aircraft flown by the company included Dominies ZK-AKT, ZK-BAU, and ZK-AKS, which were flown in various liveries.
en route to Nelson
. All four passengers drowned.
In 1943, Fox Moth ZK-AEK, piloted by Ozzie Openshaw, crashed while taking four passengers for a scenic flight over Franz Josef Glacier
, although none of the passengers nor Openshaw was injured. In 1944, Dragon ZK-AHT, piloted by Colin Lewis, crashed on Mount Hope, en route from Nelson to Westport. On board were six passengers, including Bert Mercer and another Air Travel employee, Maurice Dawe, both of whom died.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
to fly scheduled air services. Founded by Bert Mercer
Bert Mercer
Bert Mercer was a pioneer New Zealand aviator, establishing the country's first commercial airline in 1934 based around services operating between Hokitika and towns in South Westland.-Early life:...
in 1934, and based in Hokitika, the company flew a number of De Havilland
De Havilland
The de Havilland Aircraft Company was a British aviation manufacturer founded in 1920 when Airco, of which Geoffrey de Havilland had been chief designer, was sold to BSA by the owner George Holt Thomas. De Havilland then set up a company under his name in September of that year at Stag Lane...
biplane aircraft, servicing areas on the West Coast. Mercer saw potential for a commercial air service in this region because there were no roads south of Ross
Ross, New Zealand
Ross is a small town located on the West Coast of New Zealand's South Island.It lies 27 kilometres south-west of Hokitika and 46 kilometres north-east of Harihari...
, and the residents therefore relied on steamers and bullock tracks for access to the outside world.
History
Air Travel (NZ) Ltd's first scheduled flight took place on December 18, 1934, from Hokitika to South Westland, and occurred shortly after the airline began delivering mail. In 1945, not long after Mercer died in an air crash, the company came under government control but continued until 1967, when the national air carrier NACNational Airways Corporation
National Airways Corporation was the national domestic airline of New Zealand from 1947 until 1978 when it amalgamated with New Zealand's international airline, Air New Zealand. The airline was headquartered in Wellington...
began flights into Hokitika. Eleven pilots flew for Air Travel (NZ) Ltd between 1934 and 1947.
Aircraft
Over the 33 years that Air Travel (NZ) Ltd was in service they operated a number of de Havilland biplanes, including three Fox MothsDe Havilland Fox Moth
|-References:NotesBibliography* Hotson, Fred W. The de Havilland Canada Story. Toronto: CANAV Books, 1983. ISBN 0-07-549483-3.* Jackson, A. J. British Civil Aircraft 1919-1972: Volume II. London: Putnam , 1988. ISBN 0-85177-813-5....
, two Dragonflies
De Havilland Dragonfly
-References:*The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft . London: Orbis Publishing.*Hayes, P & King, B. de Havilland biplane transports. Coulsden: Gatwick Aviation Society ISBN 0 95304132 8...
, a Dragon
De Havilland Dragon
|-See also:-References:Bibliography ISBN 0-85177-813-5...
, and a Dragon Rapide
De Havilland Dragon Rapide
The de Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide was a British short-haul passenger airliner of the 1930s.-Design and development:Designed by the de Havilland company in late 1933 as a faster and more comfortable successor to the DH.84 Dragon, it was in effect a twin-engined, scaled-down version of the...
, out of Hokitika's Southside Airfield, located on the south side of the Hokitika River
Hokitika River
The Hokitika River is in the West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand. It is about long, beginning in the Southern Alps and flowing into the Tasman Sea next to the town of Hokitika. The Hokitika River, and its eastern tributary, the Kokatahi River, have formed the Kowhitirangi-Kokatahi...
. The first flight undertaken by Air Travel was in the De Havilland Fox Moth ZK-ADI, which is still in use. As the service became popular, another Fox Moth, ZK-AEK, was brought into service in 1935. Other aircraft included Dragonfly ZK-AFB (1937), Fox Moth ZK-AGM (1938), Dragonfly ZK-AGP (1938), Dragon ZK-AHT (1944), and Dragon Rapide ZK-AHS (1944). Further aircraft flown by the company included Dominies ZK-AKT, ZK-BAU, and ZK-AKS, which were flown in various liveries.
Accidents
Three Aircraft operated by Air Travel have been involved in accidents, one of which killed Mercer himself. In 1942, Dragonfly ZK-AGP, piloted by Arthur Baines, lost a propeller and ditched into the sea, having just departed WestportWestport, New Zealand
-Economy:Economic activity is based around fishing, coal mining and dairy farming. Historically, gold mining was a major industry, and coal mining was much more extensive than today . However, the region still is home to New Zealand's largest opencast mining operation in Stockton...
en route to Nelson
Nelson, New Zealand
Nelson is a city on the eastern shores of Tasman Bay, and is the economic and cultural centre of the Nelson-Tasman region. Established in 1841, it is the second oldest settled city in New Zealand and the oldest in the South Island....
. All four passengers drowned.
In 1943, Fox Moth ZK-AEK, piloted by Ozzie Openshaw, crashed while taking four passengers for a scenic flight over Franz Josef Glacier
Franz Josef Glacier
The Franz Josef is a long glacier located in Westland Tai Poutini National Park on the West Coast of New Zealand's South Island...
, although none of the passengers nor Openshaw was injured. In 1944, Dragon ZK-AHT, piloted by Colin Lewis, crashed on Mount Hope, en route from Nelson to Westport. On board were six passengers, including Bert Mercer and another Air Travel employee, Maurice Dawe, both of whom died.
Anniversaries
Two successful anniversaries commemmorating Air Travel NZ Ltd were held in 1994 and 2009, celebrating the 60th and 75th anniversaries of Air Travel (NZ) Ltd. There have also been a number of books published with details about the company.External links
- Biography of Bert Mercer http://www.dnzb.govt.nz/dnzb/alt_essayBody.asp?essayID=4M51
- Information about New Zealand airlines and various publications http://www.nzairlineresearch.co.nz/