AVIATION AIDS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 126, 29 May 1937, Page 14

AVIATION AIDS.

RADIO SERVICES.

TELEPHONE AND TELEGRAPH.

AERODROME EQUIPMENT.

(Bj Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Friday. Arrangements for the installation of powerful radio telephone and telegraph 6ervice as aids to aviation were announced to-night by the Minister of Defence, the lion. F. Jones. i Mr. Jones said the Post and Telegraph Department was at present conducting on behalf of Union Airways, Limited, and Cook Strait Airways, Limited, the following services, the cost of operation being met Ijy the particular company concerned:— Mil son aerodrome, Palmeraton North, low-power radio telegraph service; Wellington radio, Tinakori Hills, Wellington, medium-power radio telephone and telegraph service; Blenheim aerodrome, 1 low-power radio telegraph service, post and telegraph radio station; Christchurch, low-power radio telegraph service, post and telegraph radio station; Dunedin, low-power radio telegraph service. In the last few weeks radio telephone equipment has also been installed at Hokitika and Greymouth, and is being operated at these centres on behalf of Cook Strait Airways, Limited, who are 9perating their own private station at the Stoke aerodrome, Nelson, as a temporary arrangement. "The Government has now embarked on a major programme involving the provision of more powerful equipment, which will in all cases bo located in close proximity to the aerodromes themselves and will be capable of providing a telephone service as well as a telegraph service," said Mr. Jones. "At Taieri aerodrome, Dunedin, the equipment is available for installation as soon as a building has been completed. Matters are also in train for the establishment of permanent stations at Milson aerodrome, the Bell Block aerodrome, New Plymouth, and the Mange re aerodrome. In view of the desiraWility of having these stations in operation in time for the opening of the Auckland service, contracts have already been let for the erection of buildings, and it is hoped that the stations will be in operation by the end of June. "Recent weather conditions have drawn prominent attention to the necessity for the provision of radio aids to navigation, and as much work as possible on the final programmes set out by the Aeradio committee will be undertaken during the present financial year, and an amount of £35,000 being set aside to cover the expenditure involved. Quotations have already been called for suitable directional receiving equipment to equip all the more important aerodromes, and three blind approach systems are under consideration for installation at Rongotai, Taieri and Palmerston North."