EMPIRE AIR WAYS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 261, 4 November 1927, Page 7

EMPIRE AIR WAYS.

EXTENSIVE PLANS. Network Of Routes Encircling The Globe. PROGRESSIVE POLICY. (British Official Wireless.) (Received 2 p.m.) RUGBY, November 3. Two large airships, which are under construction in England will be ready for service next summer. So said the Director of Civil Aviation, Sir Sefton Brancker, who added that their first use might be on an experimental service to Canada via Bathurst, on the West African coast, and the Azores. This route will give the assistance of trade winds. Experience with lighter than air machines is, however, limited ajid all plans for the use of these great vessels are merely tentative. They will give a sample of experience on which to base plans for the development of Imperial routes by heavier than air craft and Sir Sefton Brancker looks forward to the time when aircraft will further improve in range, reliability and speed, less and less dependency being placed on ground organisation until the position is reached in which, for example, flying boats can proceed direct across the Atlantic from the west coast of Ireland to Newfoundland. Three main objectives are: Through communication by aeroplane from London to Melbourne via India. A branch line from this route through Cairo and Central Africa to Capetown and the opening of airship route. Referring to the development of the Cairo-Basra route, which showed 100 per cent regularity, Sir Sefton Brancker said that unfortunately Persia, having agreed two years ago to a route regularly running along her coast line, had so far refused to ratify that agreement. Accordingly a route on the Arabian side of the Persian Gulf was being surveyed and this showed that there were no physical difficulties until they reached the 220 miles sea jump across the Indian Ocean to British territory. By degrees they were acquiring so much confidence in three engined aircraft that he did not think that this jump was going to worry them. Negotiations were proceeding regarding the Karachi-Calcutta section, which was the business of the Indian Government, which also would control a route to Rangoon, thence to Singapore. This route was the responsibility of the British Government, but the route was still indeterminate. It has been reconnoitred and British interests were negotiating .for services from Penang to Dutch East Indies. He described the suggested air route to Capetown which, on present experience, could be flown from London in ten days, and with night flying, could be reduced to 108 hours.