Flights recapture early aviation era

Geoff Cooper flies a Vintage DC3 over Motuihe. Photo / Supplied.

"We're here on a love job and I can tell you it's a big responsibility," Captain Geoff Cooper tells the passengers assembled at Ardmore Airport on a warm Sunday morning.

He's about to fly them over Auckland in a vintage DC3, the kind of aircraft NAC was built on and one of only two airworthy examples in the country.

He and wife Jessica are part of a passionate group of aviation enthusiasts who keep ZK-DAK in the air.

It costs about $250,000 a year to run the 66-year-old aircraft. Although the flight this day is two-thirds full, half-hour scenic scoots over Auckland once a week would barely keep the old girl in new tyres.

Geoff, a 777 captain for Air New Zealand, and Jessica, a former cabin attendant who now owns a North Shore massage therapy business, aim to get the little airline running as a going concern. Or at least a break-even concern.

Fly DC3 is fully licensed and has to meet Civil Aviation Authority standards. "There's a big advantage in being a registered airline because we get treated accordingly. But at the same time we get charged accordingly," Geoff says.

They are repositioning the airline to capitalise on the plane's 1940s heritage - "how flying used to be", is their catchphrase.

The former US Air Force plane, which was decked out in RAF D-Day olive green, has been repainted in the livery of the Royal New Zealand Air Force at the time of its retirement. "The connotations of a warbird don't appeal to a lot of people today," Geoff says.

Jessica is aiming for a classic retro feel, down to 1940s music in the cabin and eventually uniforms from the era for the crew.

The business opportunities for the 30-seat aircraft are varied. Aside from the Sunday scenic flights Fly DC3 does charters, parachuting and school trips, and is available for search and rescue.

They plan to target Rugby World Cup visitors and would love to operate out of Auckland International Airport one or two days a week. However, there are logistical issues such as security, and parking for customers, Geoff says.

"Aerial burials" is a growing new niche. The DC3 has done about half a dozen in the past 18 months and has a special device for scattering the ashes out the right rear window. "The best thing about it is we can essentially lay these ashes to rest anywhere [the families] want," Geoff says. "My dad in fact was the prototype, so he's out there in the harbour."

When they came on board about 12 years ago the operation was fairly "relaxed", the Coopers say.

The organisation running the airline went into liquidation and the owners of the vintage aircraft had to take over.

Meanwhile, the CAA was starting to tighten regulations. "It was difficult for Geoff and I because people thought we were making these new rules up," Jessica says. A few "old diggers" were unimpressed and left.

Geoff learned to fly DC3s in the Air Force and was approached by one of his flight simulator instructors about flying for the vintage airline.

Eventually he and Jessica bought in and are now majority shareholders.

Jessica is in charge of marketing and administration while Geoff is chief pilot and training and standards manager.

Of the original syndicate of 50 owners about 43 remain - some have "gone to the big hangar in the sky", and a few he's never met, Geoff says.

A core group of about 10 keeps the airline running, with 13 pilots, six flight attendants and three dispatchers on the roster. None is paid, save for an incidentals allowance on overnight charters.

They look enviously at the other organisation flying a DC3 in New Zealand, the Christchurch-based Southern DC3 Trust. The South Island group gets breaks not available to its northern cousin, such as waived landing fees, sponsorship and council support. While Fly DC3 has also had grants from the White Horse Tavern and Pub Charity, the Canterbury community is more aviation-oriented. "They have got avgas in their veins, whereas Aucklanders have got latte," Geoff quips.

But he says Fly DC3 charges $90 a head for a half-hour scenic flight, compared with $125 at the Southern DC3 Trust.

The only thing that could keep Fly DC3 on the ground is lack of funds, the Coopers say. The aircraft itself has plenty of life in it yet. The DC3 - which celebrated its 75th anniversary on December 17 - was over-engineered when the model was first built, Geoff says. The planes will fly forever as long as they're maintained. Parts are available around the world, but are expensive.

"The airline has to make money. If it didn't make money it couldn't keep flying," Jessica says simply.