AIR TRANSPORT

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 284, 27 August 1930, Page 8

AIR TRANSPORT

Its Extended Use "ONLY FOR SPEED” Aeroplane transport will never b® the method of choice except for those to whom speed is vital, according to Mr. R. Campbell Begg, a Wellington surgeon, who returned this week from a tour through America and Europe. The sudden swaying and dropping over most irregular land surfaces, especially in crossing mountainous country, the luggage difficulty, and the continuous noise which rendered all conversation . impossible, contrasted unfavourably, in Mr. Begg’s opinion, with the comfort of modern railway travel both by day and night. He had a good deal, to say of the increase in air transport in the. United States and Germany. Some of its most noticeable features, he said, were seen in America. . ’ American Services. “The islands of the Hawaiian group are now closely linked by air service, which reduces the time between them to a few hours," said Mr. Begg. The air mail on the mainland has increased its ramifications considerably, and also reduced the price per letter. This is now five cents, as against ten cents tormerly. One of the most interesting features of air transport is the combined tram and air service between New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco, which is under the control of the Pennsylvania railway, and the TAT-Maddux air line. “The service leaves New York at six o’clock in the evening by train, arriving at Columbus the following morning at 7.40. Automobiles convey passengers to the air field, and a tri-motored Ford aeroplane lands them at Waynoka, Oklahoma, the same evening at six o’clock. They then transfer to the Santa Fe railway, and travelling all night, reach Clovis, New Mexico, at 8.20 the following morning. From here the aeroplane is again taken, and it arrives at Los Angeles at 4.30 in the evening, and San Francisco at 7.45. The time taken is thus about 50 hours, though, of course, the Eastbound journey is faster, as four hours—representing the difference between Pacific and Eastern time—is lost while going in that direction. The planes carry 14 passengers, two pilots and a steward, who serves lunch in the air. Fares are about the same as for the Pullman railway journey—£32. “This route has become very popular, both by those seeking novelty and by business men, and others in a hurry. The service commenced only in July, last year, and in the first year of working carried 29,000 passengers. Only one accident occurred in that time. “Another" Interesting feature of air development is the ten-mipute air ferry, crossing San Francisco Harbour to -Oakland. The fare is 8/-. and the time taken six minutes, instead of twenty by the ordinary ferry. The aeroplanes used are Amphibians, alighting in the water at the San Francisco side, and running up to an inclined platform to unload passengers. At Oakland the landing is made on the aerodrome. European Air Transport. “A large part of the Continent of Europe is intersected with air routes, Mr. Begg continued. “Most of the services are once daily. The fare is a little more than the first-class rail fare for the distance, and thirty pounds weight of baggage is allowcr per passenger. on some of the routes I travelled there were only two or three passengers m planes made to seat eight. In not universally—it is a general rule that two pilots are carried. The senior ones on the most frequented routes are war pilots of experience. T “In one instance the plane on which I travelled had been allowed to start with a leak from the water cooling jacket, so that the engine heated and a forced landing was necessary, On the whole the services are remarkably free from accident. The companies insure all passengers for £5OOO, and the premium is included in the fare. In America the usual insurance is for £lOOO a bead, . D'e conjparative safety of the services is indicated by the low premiums for which extra insurance can be effected. , . “In Berlin I saw the new Junker land plane which has endeavoured to 'overcome” the noise difficulty, with, only moderate success, I believe. It is provided - with a smoking room, and can carry'43 people. The Dormer X twelvemotored airboat, to carry more than i 150 people, was dismantled at the time of my visit, to Lake Constance. New Amer can engines were being installed. It will ne of great interest to watch the progress of this boat during its Atlantic crossing. “Short distances and excellence of the train service have prevented the development of interior passenger air transport in Britain,” Mr. Begg concluded. A service was inaugurated this year between Manchester and London, but is hardly expected to pay. On the other hand, tho Paris-London route-is very popular. The prices are slightly less than on the Golden Arrow de luxe service, and at the time when I inquired in Paris, all seats had been booked for a fortnight.”