THE AIRPORT

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 52, 25 November 1929, Page 10

THE AIRPORT

SOME INITIAL MISTAKES SHOULD PARACHUTES BE COMPULSORY? At present Wellington’s airport consists of some fifty acres of flat land, a couple of hangars of the makeshift order, and a wind mast This does not really constitute a well-equipped airport. It is only the beginning. But it is just as easy to begin right as wrong, and there are those of experience in aerial matters who state that at least three mistakes have been made which could have been avoided had the matter been given more thought. One of the most experienced pilots in New Zealand informed a “Dominion” reporter that both of the hangars had been placed In the wrong position, and that the wind mast was also incorrectly and awkwardly placed. “All buildings or obstructions of any kind on any flying ground should be located with a due regard to the prevailing winds,” he said. “These in Wellington are north-east and south-west. Aeroplanes always land against the wind. That being the case, a pilot landing during a northerly blow circles round to the south side of the ground, skims the fence by a safe margin, and taxies toward- the hangars; but when there is a south-easterly wind blowing, the thing to do is to circle round to the north-west, land just over the hangars and taxi south until the ma’chine pulls up.” Needless Obstructions. That is why it is stated that the hangars have been placed in the wrong position. There was a light southerly blowing on Saturday, and each ’plane that landed made its descent either over the hangars—which are situated in the north-western corner of the ground—or just to one side of them. It seems clear that these obstructions should not be where they are. They could, with safety, have been placed near the fence line on the western or south-ywestern side of the ground, when they would have been clear of all flying operations. Similarly the pilot stated that the wind mast was also in the wrong position in being placed a few yards away from the big" hangar. Its position was pretty well due north of the ground, and for that reason was a possible obstruction to ’planes landing in southerly weather. Had the mast been erected either on the extreme eastern or western parts of the ground there could have been no objection to its location, but sooner or later it would have to be shifted—the sooner the better. The Wrong Colour. Another fault found with the equipment is the colour of the wind cone, which blows out from the top of the mast to give the direction of the wind to the airmen. At present the tone colour of the ground is a yellowishwhite clay, and yet' against such a background a white wind-cone is flown. White would be quite appropriate if the mast stood in the centre of a green sward of grass, but as it is it would be much better to have a red, blue or green wind-cone, in order that it could be picked out against the existing yellow-white landing ground. So far the flying regulations have not been published by the Minister of Defence, but a sensible, suggestion has been made that it should be compulsory for everyone who flies, be they pilots or passengers, to be equipped with a modern aeroplane parachute. Only the other day, a skilful pilot of experience in America got into a tail spin, and crashed, with fatal result to the pilot, but the passenger, who was equipped with a parachute, jumped at the. word of command —and was not killed. Ships are made to carry lifeboats and life-belts for every person on board; why should people who love flying not be so compulsory protected, or at least given a fighting chance of saving their lives in an emergency?