WEATHER FOR JET FLYING

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28950, 18 July 1959, Page 15

WEATHER FOR JET FLYING

Meteorologists’ Course

“The Press" Special Service WELLINGTON, July 17. Senior meteorologists from New Zealand stations are at present in Wellington preparing themselves for the coming jet age in New Zealand flying operations. Operations with Canberra bombers, expected shortly, and turbo-prop and full jet airliners brings the ceiling up to 50,000 feet from the present 25,000, with additional problems and new weather for the meteorologists. Seven men are at present taking part in an 11-day course at Kelburn meteorological office, studying such special problems as et streams—winds of more than 200 m.p.h.—which blow in narrow belts at certain latitudes and altitudes. Knowledge of a jet stream on a proposed course can make a considerable difference in flight planning from the point of view of both fuel economy and speed of passage. ( The meteorologists are: Messrs E. G. Edie (Rongotai); J. L. M. Waygood (Auckland); J. A. Hunter (Christchurch); J. W Hutchings (Kelburn); R. L. Latimer (Nandi); L. N. Larsen (Auckland), and J. W. Wilkins (Ohakea).

Dr. J. F. Gabites, officer in charge of weather research, said that the Meteorological Service was handling the forecasting for the Boeing 707 jet service between Honolulu and Nandi, Fiji, and from Nandi to Sydney. Canberra bombers were expected shortly, and with their longer range would need much more extensive forecasting than had been required by such short range jets as Vampires. “However, the course is not designed to deal with just one particular plane,” he said. “We are treating the whole problem of forecasting for jet flying broadly.”