AIRPORT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 271, 14 November 1936, Page 9

AIRPORT.

AUCKLAND'S CLAIM. "LOGICAL TERMINUS." OPINION OF HAROLD GATTY. TRANS-TASMAN SERVICE. Auckland is the logical airport for the trans-Tasman service. This is the ' considered opinion of Mr. Harold Gatty, representative, of Pan-American Air- ' ways and Douglas Aircraft Company, > who is a through passenger by the Mon- • terey for Honolulu. Mr. Gatty will con- , nect there with the China Clipper and i fly to San Francisco. He will return to New Zealand before the end of the year. ; "Auckland is the logical terminus for . 'planes coming either from Australia or America," said Mr. Gatty. "It is not because of its merely physical conditions that it is the logical port, for any part of New Zealand can be made safe for landing, but Auckland is the logical port because the route to Auckland between the other countries is shorter. A seaplane, or a land 'plane for that • matter, is not going to make Wellington or Christchurch its terminus from Suva, and the same applies as far as Australia is concerned. Auckland has all the advantages, and is nearer the natural traffic route for Pacific crossings." Discussing the proposed Tasman air service, Mr. Gatty said that the Governments concerned had not yet given a decision, but that it need not be long before the establishment of a service. "The distance is only 1400 miles," he continued. "That is 1000 miles shorter than one hop that Pan-American 'planes make from San Francisco to Honolulu. It is quite evident that the transTasman service could be conducted without any trouble. There are no difficulties as far as the operation of such a service is concerned. Two radio compass stations will be required—one at Auckland and one at Sydney—with receiving and transmitting stations at each end for communication purposes. Land and Water. "Some people seem to be of the opinion that land and water bases should be combined for land and sea 'planes. There is no need for such a combination. Point England is the logical air base at Auckland for land 'planes and Lady's Bay (St. Heliers) for sea 'planes. There is nothing in the argument that a landing field should be close to the water. Tha requirements are totally different for landing on water and on land. "A water base should be away from harbour traffic, and that is why Lady's Bay is a desirable site. The authorities have to look ahead. Blind landings will have to be made at times and seaplanes will have to manoeuvre in thick weather. That is why the landing base must be away from congested areas. Lady's Bay gives two miles of clear water between it and Rangitoto and there are two miles of clear water in the other direction. Flying Boats. "The problem of selecting a base at Auckland is not easy of solution because there is no place where it can be said that it is clear of all weather. There is no doubt that the Tasman crossing will be commenced with flying boats but what the future will hold there is no telling. It would be foolish for the Auckland Harbour Board to do anything more than select probable landing sites. The building of any permanent buildings or slipways should be left until it is known what organisation is to conduct the service and the company should then state its requirements. One cannot treat an air port in the same way as a port for shipping where the same type of docks serves for all vessels."