TWO YEARS?

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 58, 9 March 1935, Page 10

TWO YEARS?

TASMAN AIR MAILS.

SERVICE MAY BE SOONER

AVIATION PROGRESS. "With the present" rapid, development of commercial aviation it is not unreasonable to hope that there will be an air mail service across the Tasman within two years. Something may be accomplished even ahead of that time." This opinion was 'expressed by Captain E. Johnston, controller of civil aviation for the Commonwealth, who is a through passenger by the liner Mariposa. His mission is to investigate commercial flyincr in fill parts of the world, -with a view to introducing improved methods in Australia.

"The crossing of an ocean span as wide as the Tasman is certainly a problem," said Captain Johnston. "Only one other such service is in operation, that across tho South Atlantic from Dakar, in French West Africa, to Natal, in Brazil. Two companies, one French and one- German, use this route, the latter company having depot ships for the supply of "petrol. Spanning the Tasman presents the same difficulties, except that the distance is approximately 500 miles less—l2oo compared with 1700 iv.iles. Careful study of the route and much preparation'are necessary before these ocean crossings can be included, in regular air services. The Tasman will have to be properly equipped with all the modern aids to" navigation, such, as direction-finders, for an air service to be of practical use." Visits of Inspection. Captain Johnston's intention is first to visit the United States and collect all the latest data in respect to mail services and commercial aviation generally. Ho will go to Florida and inspect the Pan-American airways operated from Florida to the south. After visiting Canada he will go to Europe and the United Kingdom, a-nd then to Cairo, the 'operation base of Imperial Airways, this being the junction port for Australia, South Africa and Eastern routes. He will return by air to Australia, breaking his journey both in India and the Malay States. "The Commonwealth Government lias realised that it cannot get the best value out of its expenditure on civil aviation without having a thorough knowledge of what other countries are doing," said Captain Johnston. "That is why I am making a world tour. The vote for civil aviation is approximately £120,000 a year, expended by way of subsidies to air services. AVe get bark about half of that amount by way of air mail surcharges. The institution of overseas mail services has had a groat effect on the. development of commercial flying in the Commonwealth, and has been responsible for the changing of the majority of Australia's internal routes for the collection and delivery of mails. Radio Beacons. "So far we have not adopted the system of radio beacons and other aids that are in use in America and elsewhere, but we have a system of beacons and ground lights, to give all the aid possible for night flying. These are placed at regular intervals, so that we are equipped as well as possible to carry on in the meantime. One of my objects in visiting America is to investigate the latest wireless equipment for navigation. We have found that the route to Tasmania across Bass Strait presents one of our greatest problems, for at certain seasons the weather is bad and visibility poor. We have a temporary arrangement in respect to wireless direction finding, but no decision has been come to so far as to what permanent equipment will be installed. The Timor Sea crossing during the monsoon season is another difficulty that has to be contended with."

Asked what was being done to aid navigation from Darwin south across the continent, Captain Johnson said several airmen had been lost .owing to the country being featureless. At kej points direction arrows were now beinj installed. They consisted of iron plat forms 100 ft hi length and Oft across painted white. "The Centenary race gave aviation a wonderful iillip," lie continued. "The race aroused tremendous interest. It appealed to imagination, and has helped more than anything else to arouse the public, to the importance of the air for both mail and passenger services."