11-11-93 Bid to train Asian may save air force /'% pilöts base by Dave Wilson A multimillion dollar proposal to train South-east Asian civilian pilots at Wigram is being hailed as the potential cornerstone of a package to save the air force base. potential this place has for aviation, recreatio and educational uses." Pilot training is one of several aviation related uses under examination, with the South. east Asian proposal being seriously pursued. A Wigram Task Force member, Dr Morgan Dr Fahey declined to identify the country Fahey, said the pilot-training scheme — one of involved, but said preliminary negotiations 42 proposals advanced for civilian use of the indicated the plan merited in-depth study. base — would entail training "This proposal could be of hundreds of pilots and be of tremendous benefit to the city tremendous economic benefit because it is not in competition to Christchurch. with the activities at Christ- 'This is a multimillion- church International Airport, but would be complementary dollar proposal. If it all comes to the airport, while making off, this single deal has the use of Wigram's aviation and potential to be the cornerstone accommodation facilities. to the whole package of saving Wigram for aviation, rec- Although an independent reational and educational consultant estimated Wigram's Uses. closing would mean a $100 million a year loss to the The task force established Dr by the MP for Selwyn, Miss Canterbury economy nigure Fahey thought the Ruth Richardson, and given closer to $40 million. Government authority to in- "The important thing now is vestigate civilian uses of the to get funding to investigate base, wants Cabinet approval the various options. The to fund consultants and econ- chance to turn around the omic analysts to examine the Dr Fahey likely economic loss is a major various proposals. challenge for the city. Had we Dr Fahey said he hoped the task force would not challenged Defence's plans to dispose of the be able to call for public submissions before base, the city would have been the loser and the Christmas on the best uses for Wigram, which is loss of Wigram would have been an economic due to close when the air force leaves in late blow that could never be retrieved." 1995. Dr Fahey said the Government was also "This will be an opportunity for the public to investigating ways to physically protect the air nave a say on how we should best develop base site, because Defence was not permitted to Wigram. The task force members have visited sell or lease its land. the base several times, and while the place is One suggestion was to transfer the base's now a ghost town, each time we see what vast control to another Government department. 26-11-93 • Greg Murphy is the first resident New Zealand driver to commit to racing a Formula Brabham in the forthcoming Peter Jackson Series. Former Shell scholarship winner Murphy has the Reynard 90D which w Australian Grand Prix support Adelaide in the hands of Paul Murphy, from Hastings, will support from Shell and is actively additional support for the campai Stokell, from Tasmania, is like leased on the race at Stokell. carry seeking ly to be one of the six contingent contestin series driving the l Reynard 90D. Auckla yet to choose betw Atlantic car and the he plans to convert t -strong Australian ng the New Zealand Birana • team's sister ander Ken Smith has veen his Swift DB4 Dome F3000 chassis to Formula Brabham. Keith Beck, Mike Garlick, and Murray McLaren. While the couple will visit New Zealand on holiday this summer, McMillan will not be bringing his race team following Motor Race New Zealand's decision to move from Formula Atlantic to Brabham as our premier single-seater category. L American visite Peter Jackson Series and Stuart Crow, are arrange outings in ne championship. rs at last season's , Charles Nearburg • both attempting to Xt season's IndyCar