A Great Adventure
A passion for flying is in Continental’s directors’ blood, with all three directors being enthusiastic pilots of some decades standing (in fact managing director Greg Ward was a World Champion of Precision Flying in 1996 and 1999).
Combining this passion with the fact that tourism is a key market for Continental’s event catering and event hire services, it was a natural fit for the company to support the Southern DC3 Charitable Trust when they approached Continental as a partner.
A Labour of Love - Background
Luxury air travel specialist Pionair Adventures was operating three DC aircraft in New Zealand in the early 2000s. When the company sold two of the aircraft overseas, concern was raised about the profound effect on our nation’s aviation history if the third was sold offshore
While an historic museum display can be very effective, the ideal scenario is for people to be able to experience first-hand classic airline travel in an operational DC3 aircraft in New Zealand.
The Trust commenced (and continues) activity to enable the purchase and maintenance of the third DC3 – ZK-AMY - to ensure it remained in New Zealand for perpetuity.
Getting to where we are today – with this beautiful, unique aircraft available to take people on trips around the South Island – has involved a collaborative labour of love:
- 14 engineers give their time to support the maintenance checks.
- Air New Zealand provided 40 return flights to Palmerston North (Where AMY was located) to enable initial work to be carried (such as a new starboard engine) prior to AMY relocating to the South Island.
- Field Air in Palmerston North donated their entire inventory of spare parts (worth approx $100K).
- MainFrieght Ltd transported the parts to Christchurch.
- Ashburton Aviation museum built a super hangar as AMY’s base ($500K+).
- All Black captain Richie McCaw is the Trust Patron and gives his time and energy to assisting with the on-going fundraising.
The Southern DC3 has become an icon in Canterbury and supports the Canterbury events and tourism market:
- Incentives (seats a maximum of 28 passengers)
- Corporate events
- Conferences
- Special Events
- Adventure Travel
- Golf tours
- Film Industry
- Community Barnstorming
- Trust activities such as aviation education for children
How A DC3 Will Give YOUR Next Event Wings
Part of the uniqueness of the DC3 is its ability to land on both grass and sealed airstrips, expanding its destination possibilities considerably.
There are several packages available (see www.southerndc3.co.nz) but most trips are tailored to a groups specific requirements.
Continental Event Catering is delighted to have the opportunity of working with DC3 to enhance trips and take them to that next level of comfort, with delicious in-flight catering, refreshments served in stunning destinations on arrival, or pre and post flight celebrations – from the simple to the sumptuous.
Contact us to discuss your next very special event that will really wow your friends and collegues.
Link to www.southerndc3.co.nz
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