AIR SERVICE OVER TASMAN

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21941, 16 November 1936, Page 13

AIR SERVICE OVER TASMAN

“AUCKLAND LOGICAL TERMINUS”

OPINION OF HAROLD CATTY

O’SRS* ♦SSmUi nil* AUCKLAND, November )4. "Auckland is the logical terminus for the Tasman service." That is the considered opinion of Mr Harold Gatty. the representative of pan-American Airways and the Douglas Aircraft Company. who was a through passenger on the Monterey for Honolulu, from where he will fly to San Francisco. “Auckland is the logical terminus for aeroplanes coming either from Australia or America, not because of its merely physical conditions, because any part of New Zealand can be made safe for landing, but because the route to Auckland is shorter. Auckland has all the advantages, and is nearer the natural traffic route on the Pacific crossing."

Discussing the proposed Tasman service, Mr Gatly said that the Governments concerned had not yet given a decision, but it need not be long before the establishment of a service. A distance of only 1400 miles was 1000 miles shorter than one hop Pan-American aeroplanes made from San Francisco to Honolulu. It was quite evident that the Tasman service could be conducted without trouble, there being no difficulties as far as the operation of such a service was concerned. Two radio compasses, one at Auckland • and one at Sydney, with receiving and transmitting stations, wouid be required. “The problem of selecting a base at. Auckland js not easy of solution, because there is no place where it can be said it is clear of all weather. There is no doubt that Tasman crossings will be commenced with flying-boats, but what the future will hold there is no telling. It would be foolish of the Auckland Harbour Board to do anything more than select probable landing sites. One cannot treat the airport in the same way as a port for shipping, where the same type of dock does for all vessels.”