WEST COAST AIR SERVICE

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22005, 1 February 1937, Page 8

WEST COAST AI R SERVICE

Probable Start Next Month [THREE RETURN FLIGHTS | WEEKLY [THE PRESS Special Servivi/.] GREYMOUTH, January 31. The air service from Nelson to the West Coast will probably begin about the middle of February, said Mr E. IT. Thomson, managing director of the Cook Strait Airways, who has been making an inspection of the aerodromes which they will use for the new service. It was not likely that the Westport aerodrome would be ready for use by then, but when the ground was ready the company would call there, continued Mr Thomson. He said that the company was asking the Government to have wireless telephones installed at the landing grounds as soon as possible, for the company did not want to have a regular service without wireless. All the company's aeroplanes were fitted with two-way wireless equipment, and while in flight were in constant communication with the ground stations. The company had proposed that a fairly powerful wireless station should be erected at Hokitika, with lesser stations at intermediate aerodromes. The Greymouth and Hokitika stations, which would work on a 600-metre wave, would be capable of both telephpnic and telegraphic communication.; The service would operate three days a week at the beginning. On Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, said Mr Thomson, it would leave Nelson at 8 a.m., and after calling at Westport would arrive at Greymouth in time for passengers for stations along the line to connect with the 10.18 a.m. express for Christchurch. On its return, the aeroplane would leave Hokitika about 10.45 and Greymouth at 11.10, arriving in Nelson in time for passengers to catch the 1.30 aeroplane from Nelson to Wellington. Travellers would be able to leave Greymouth at 11.10 a.m. and be in Wellington about 2.15 p.m., in time to catch the 3 p.m. express for Auckland. The alteration in the road services to South Westland had made alterai tions in the timetable necessary, Mr Thomson said. The company's fourth aeroplane was due in Wellington on Sunday, ai d the additional pilot, Mr G. G. Stead, was also due. Mr Stead was a very experienced pilot, who had had a good deal of experience over- • seas. .' Accompanied by Mr G. B. Bolt, chief pilot and technical adviser to the company, and representatives of the Public Works Department, the Greymouth Aero Club, and Nancarrow and Company, Ltd., Mr Thomson inspected the Greymouth aerodrome on Saturday. He left later for Hokitika to inspect the aerodrome there. On Friday he inspected the Westport aerodrome.