The Historical Aircraft Restoration Society will have to wait until February 24 to be granted formal approval to receive a Boeing 747-400 donated by Qantas.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Qantas plans to deliver the recently retired 747 aircraft to its final resting place at Illawarra Regional Airport in early March.
However Shellharbour City Council, the owner of the airport, said a number of issues need to be addressed relating to the landing of the aircraft and the leasing and licensing involved in parking the 747 on council land.
HARS president Bob De La Hunty said the aircraft, known as the City of Canberra, would be located on a site 64 metres wide and 71 metres long adjacent to the HARS hangar. The aircraft will sit on concrete pads.
The plane will be situated in a way that the public will be able to access the aircraft away from the airport’s runway.
Shellharbour council general manager Michael Willis said a licence would need to be endorsed by the council, with a report to be presented at a council meeting on February 24.
‘‘This is no different to anyone at the airport who occupies council land,’’ Mr Willis said.
He said issues such as public liability and who covered the costs of damage to the runway would need to be made clear in the licence.
Last year the council sent HARS a bill for $18,000 for damage caused to the airport runway by its Super Constellation aircraft during the Wings Over Illawarra event.
Mr Willis said it stood to reason the council should not be responsible for damage caused by third parties.
‘‘Nobody is saying it can’t happen, everyone who has an interest in this is saying this is a good thing and should happen,’’ Mr Willis said.
‘‘Our responsibility is to make sure the interests of ratepayers and the council are protected.’’
