AIR SERVICE THIS YEAR

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 115, 8 February 1935, Page 13

AIR SERVICE THIS YEAR

Cook Strait License APPLICATIONS FOR TRUNK LINE Hearing- Postponed Month With the condition that it starts operations before October 1 next, Cook Strait Airways, Ltd., was granted. a license to operate a daily air service between Wellington, Blenheim and Nelson by the Transport Co-ordination Board yesterday. The hearing of the application for permission to inaugurate a trunk route was adjourned for approximately a month. There Avere two applicants for the Cook Strait route, the successful company and the Goodwin-Chichester Aviation Company. “Both applicants appear to consider that at present there is room for only one service to operate over the route involved,” the board stated. ‘This is also the board’s opinion.” “In granting any license for aircraft,” the chairman, Sir Stephen Allen said, “the safety and convenience of the travelling public must be the paramount consideration, and the board must therefore take special notice of the ability of any proposed licensee to provide the best and safest machines for the purpose, and to maintain them in the best condition. The financial position of the applicants accordingly becomes a matter of importance because there may be greater inducement for the weaker applicant, in spite of careful inspection, to save unduly in the purchase, maintenance or essential appurtenances of his aeroplanes. For the journey over Cook Strait also it is the opinion of technical experts that machines with two or more engines should be used. [Conditions of License. “The Goodwin-Chichester Co. proposes to use Avro Six machines which are not of the latest type. Its proposals as to fares are also unsatisfactory in many respects, and although its financial position appears undoubtedly sound, it is by no means in the same position as Cook Strait Airways. Although the Goodwin-Chichester Co. Ims formerly made numerous commercial flights over Cook Strait it has not done so for nearly three years and consequently seems to possess no claims to preference on this ground. “We, therefore, prefer the application from the Cook Strait Airways Ltd. to which company we propose to grant a license.” The license granted will be subject to the following conditions and will be for a period of five years. The machines are to be British having two or more engines, the number and type to be approved by the board. The service is to commence on or before October 1, 1935, with leave for the company to apply for an extension of the period if necessary. The route, timetable and faros to be as applied for with the right to run to Hokitika as required. The company was also granted an air taxi license, the machines being allowed to be used for the. carriage of passengers and goods on journeys to and from any part of New Zealand commencing from or terminating at Wellington, Blenheim, or Nelson. No Decision on Trunk Service. "By far the most important applications before this board are those relating to trunk services. The granting or refusal of these services will, we think, have a vital bearing on the ultimate development of commercial aviation in the Dominion,” stated the board. “At this stage we do not feel justified in arriving at a final decision, as there are many aspects which have been raised during the hearing. It is also felt desirable that certain technical matters should be considered before finalising the position.

“We can, however, at this juncture indicate that in our opinion the most important trunk route will be that which will operate between Palmerston North and Dunedin. The value of this route for the carriage of passengers, and more so for the carriage of mails, must be apparent to all. “Owing to the lack of information before this board on tlie condition of tlje various aerodromes throughout the Dominion, it is felt necessary at this stage that the fullest information on this point should be obtained without delay. With that end in view this board is instructing the Transport Department to obtain a detailed report from the Controller of Civil Aviation on all licensed aerodromes in the Dominion. The report asked for will have particular reference to the type of aircraft which may now safely use each landing ground; where it is proposed to improve any particular ground ami what steps are being taken in this direction: and the approximate dare of completion of the proposed improvements; aud, thirdly, the aircraft which

could be accommodated upon completion.

“We propose, therefore, to adjourn all trunk route applications for one month, and will on resuming the hearing be prepared to receive any further information from the applicants which may assist us in arriving at a decision on the question.” Air Travel Licenses. The application of Air Travel (N.Z.) Ltd. for a license to carry out a service on the West Coast was granted. “The applicant is carrying on a satisfactory and desirable service which is meeting the convenience of residents in Westland and elsewhere, and it would be unfair to limit tlie license to a further short period, as although the applicants for other services on the West Coast have not been able to appear in support of their applications they have already been heard as regards their objections to this service” said the Board. An air taxi license was also granted to the applicant. Both licenses are for a term of five years and the machines operated may be used for the carriage of passengers and goods on journeys to any part of New Zealand commencing from or terminating at any of the aerodromes or landing grounds on the applicant's route. The Mt. Cook Tourist Co. has given an air taxi license for a service radiating from the Hermitage to points in the South Island and to Wellington and also sightseeing from the Hermitage for a term of five years, provided that the machines used were of British manufacture and of a type approved by the board. The service must be available on or before October 1, 1935, and the company is granted the right to apply for an extension of the period if necessary. The area over which the service may be' carried on is limited to tlie provinces of Canterbury, Otago and 'Westland. The schedule of fares and goods charges is to be submitted to the board for approval. The license is granted for one machine only at present and further application will have to be made to the board if more are to be used. Aero Club Licenses. “Automatic” air taxi licenses were granted to the 11 aero clubs for four years, subject to tlie following conditions: — The machines used are to be those shown in the schedule of application or any others later authorised as substitutes. Fares are to be according to the aero club’s amended scale.