AIDS TO SAFE FLYING

Evening Post, Issue 47, 23 August 1935, Page 8

AIDS TO SAFE FLYING

Atmospheric conditions slill largely control the problem of safe flying and the regularity of air [services must be dependent on such aids as can be given by.radio communications as to the state of the weather along the line of route. Hence the importance of meteorological stations wherever flight takes place. This was emphasised by Sir George Simpson, Director of the British Meteorological Office, at a private conference of experts in London. "Aeroplanes are going to fly by night as well as day," he said, "and their safety will largely depend Upon help from meteorological stations. It is proposed to broadcast information from high-power wireless stations at Rugby, Arlington, Sydney, Tokio, Cairo and Moscow." The conference also recommended the establishment of; an ocean observatory at Tristan da Cunha in the South Atlantic and an Arctic meteorological station at Chesterfield Inlet, Hudson Bay, in Canada. This vital side of aviation has been developed to an advanced stage in the United States by means of radio beams, and it has been found possible for pilots to fly entirely "blind" from one airport to another, taking off and landing without mishap. The Pan-American clipper flying-boat recently performed a similar feat between Honolulu and Oakland, California. New Zealand so fay.-has.no equipment of

tin's kind, but it is the opinion of experLs that regular Hying in scheduled air services will be seriously handicapped until something is done in that direction. The risk of accident will also be increased in cases of poor visibility. No doubt the authorities will sec. that proper ground equipment of this nature is installed before regular air services commence.