SAFETY IN THE AIR.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 59, Issue 22, 5 November 1938, Page 5

SAFETY IN THE AIR.

PROPOSAL IN AUSTRALIA. SECOND TO NONE IN WORLD. (United Press Association —Copyright.) MELBOURNE, November 4. Australia’s proposed organisation foi aircraft safety will be second to none in the world, according to the evidence of Squadron-Leader C. S. Wiggins, radio expert on the Civil Aviation Board, at the inquiry into the Kyeema disaster. The work done in the las 18 months, lie said, was more than had been undertaken in any other country at any time. Squadron-Leader Wiggms said that the delays in the operation of the Lorenz radio beacon had been allowed in the interests of maximum safety and to obtain the best possible system He considered the Lorenz beacon the best type at present, hut only two were available in Australia, and it would be months before more could be obtained. In the meantime he was sure they would have suitable receivers, developed by Amalgamated Wireless. He said the Rssendon beacon would be operating within a fortnight. The actual cost of the seven beacons now installed was from £60,000 to £70,000. Squadron - Leader Wiggins denied that an aeroplane had been specially obtained from Adelaide for tests because of the disaster. Negotiations for this had been made before that time. The inquiry adjourned till Monday.