WEATHER FORECASTS

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 7, 3 October 1929, Page 15

WEATHER FORECASTS

<> VALUE TO AVIATION. The value of climatological information to aviation was referred to in the annual report of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, presented to Parliament yesterday. The report stated that aviation was still in the early stages of its development in New Zealand, but it was unnecessary to enlarge on the importance for anyone undertaking a long journey by air of a knowledge of the wind, weather, and visibility he would meet with along his route. More frequent and more detailed information was required for aviation purposes than for the ordinary forecasting, and in the Dominion the supply would have, to a large extent, to follow the demand. At present forecasts were frequently supplied to aviators in response to telephoned or telegraphed requests, but arrangements were in hand, in co-opera-tion with the Department of Civil Aviation, for a more complete organisation, nt least as regards inter-island traffic. Before making the frequently somewhat hazardous crossing of Cook Strait a pilot would be given information regarding the wind at various heights, the nature and height of clouds, the weather, and the visibility.