SOUTH PACIFIC AIR SERVICE

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23088, 2 August 1940, Page 10

SOUTH PACIFIC AIR SERVICE

♦ —— HONOLULU CLIPPER AT AUCKLAND UNEVENTFUL FLIGHT (press association telegram.). AUCKLAND, August 1. Completing the final-stage of 1122 miles from Noumea in 8 hours 10 minutes, Pan American Airways’ Honolulu Clipper landed at Auckland at 2.45 o’clock this afternoon on the second flight of the regular mail service between San Francisco and New Zealand. Commanded by Captain R. H. McGloin, the. clipper made an uneventful trip, whicn, on account of favourable weather, was described as “even better than routine.” The flying-boat took off from Noumea at 6.35 (New Zealrnd time) this morning. For the most part there was a light wind on the bow,- and the journey was made in almost uninterrupted sunshine. From the heat of the Californian midsummer, the crew and passengers were surprised to arrive in a winter climate which, welcomed them with what was regarded as a mild and sunny day. Proof tha,t the new South Pacific service is still far from a commonplace was provided by the crowd which assemb 1 'd on the waterfront. In accordance with the company's practice of familiarising commanders with a new air route, Captain Kenneth Beer made the flight as first officer. An express freight service between Auckland and San Francisco will be introduced from the United States end on the flight commencing on August 24, according to a statement by Mr P. S. Delany. who arrived by the clipper to assume the duties of traffic manager at the Auckland base. Mr Delany. who has been transferred from the position of traffic representative for the company at Hong Kong, added that advice had yet to be received of the first passenger flight, but advance bookings indicated that the clipper would be fully loaded. The clipper also carried two representatives of the United States Civil Aeronautics Authority. Mr H. W Anderson, chief of the air carrier inspection branch, and Mr H. B. .Taylor, who is in charge of the main-, tenance and inspection section of the department Both are primarily concerned with Questions of safety, and f. ev expressed the oninion. on their arrival at Auckland, that in every resnect the new South Pacific route was from this standpoint. Other nasscnPcrs on the clipper comprised Mr John CafFrey. of the Wrieht Aeronautics Company. Mr Ralnh Beecher, the company's Pacific divisional engineer, who is inspecting the base facilities. M 1 * John Yates, who will remain in Auckland as mechanic, and Mr J. Lindberg. a member of the Ran American engineering staff at San Francisco. The dinner will take off on the return fight to Noumea at 7.30.0’c10ck on Saturday morning. CONNECTING SERVICE ACROSS TASMAN . ADDITIONAL TRIP EVERY FORTNIGHT (PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) WELLINGTON, July 31. The Minister in charge of Civil Aviation (the Hon. F. Jones) stated to-day that arrangements had been completed between the Governments of the United Kingdom. Australia, and New Zealand to provide a third trip each fortnight for a satisfactory connecting link between the Pan American service to Auckland and the trans-Tasman service to Sydney. The new time-table will be: depart from Auckland on Thursday and return on Sunday each week; and in the week during which the Pan American clipper arrives an additional departure will be made from Sydney on Friday and from Auckland on Saturday. The new time-table will be regarded as experimental until experience enables a better judgment to be formed on the service that will be required