UNUSUAL ROUTE TO MELBOURNE

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27859, 6 January 1956, Page 8

UNUSUAL ROUTE TO MELBOURNE

DC-6 Flys By Way Of Invercargill

TURBULENT WEATHER AVOIDED

A Tasman Airways DC-6 plane flew over Dunedin last evening on its way from Harewood to Melbourne. Though this is a long route, it is expected to be the quickest under present conditions. according to a Press Association report from Dunedin. The aircraft passed over Dunedin at 7.50 p.m. at a height of 12,000 feet. It flew to Invercargill, and there altered course to cross the Tasman to Melbourne An air traffic control officer at Taieri explained that the DC-6 was using the system known as ‘‘pressure pattern flying”—it was getting the benefit of tail winds, and would give passengers a much more comfortable journey than otherwise. It was possible that head winds on the direct route from Harewood to Melbourne were the reason for the flight round the south of New Zealand, said the officer. ihe airliner had arrived at Harewood yesterday afternoon after being delayed at Melbourne for an hour and 15 minutes because of a defective heater. It arrived at Harewood at 4.15 p.m. with 47 passengers and 2401 b of cargo. It left for Melbourne at 6.50 p.m. with 51 passengers and 3401 b of cargo.

An official of the company said yesterday that the aircraft was not expected to gain any time on the crossings, as it had to fly around a high turbulent front in the Tasman Sea. Consequently the time of the arrival of the DC-6 at Harewood tomorrow had been changed to 4.30 p.m., and it would depart for Sydney at 6.30 p.m.