CIVIL AVIATION

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 130, 26 February 1929, Page 16

CIVIL AVIATION

PROGRESS IN UNITED STATES

AERIAL POSTAL SERVICES

Dominion Special Service.

Auckland, February 25. ‘Air ports must be made, and every small town in New Zealand would be well advised to put aside a piece of land for that purpose. There is not the slightest doubt that in the near future commercial flying will beat the motor and railway for mail carriage. At least, that is the opinion expressed in America to-day. You ean get any amount of money in that country for commercial flying, and their night flying services are wonderful.”

These remarks were made by Captain M. Barlow, of the New Zealand Air Force, who returned by the Aorangi from America. Captain Barlow left New Zealand in November last to attend the International Civil Aeronautic Conference, which opened in Washington on December 11. There were representatives of 47 countries present. Every phase of commercial aviation was discussed, and visitors were greatly impressed with the tremendous strides made by night flying in the States. The air service mail traffic to and from Chicago was now the second largest flying field in the world. It was a wonderful spectacle to watch aeroplane after aeroplane swoop down on a brilliantly lit aerodrome between 5.30 and 8 o’clock in the evening. As a matter of fact, according to Captain Barlow, the Americans have got night flying almost down to perfection. To assist the services, beacons to guide fliers have been erected at distances about 15 miles apart right across the Continent. There are emergency landing fields always prepared for night or day descents. Captain Barlow was enthusiastic concerning the possibilities of aerial mail services in New Zealand. He said that in the very near future there would be an aerial mail service from Invercargill to Auckland, and most of the smaller towns in the Dominion could be profitably served in a similar manner. Aerial postage rates in America were about double the ordinary charges, but nearly everyone appeared to use the air post. A single-engined machine, about the size of the Gloster Grebe units of the New Zealand Air Force, would carry a useful load of 25701 b., using 10 to 12 gallons of fuel an hour.

“Many new and up-to-date scientific devices had been, and are being, invented, which make and will make flflying as safe as travelling by motor, or in a train,” said Captain Barlow.