NEW AIR SERVICE

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 42, 13 November 1936, Page 8

NEW AIR SERVICE

Wellington-Auckland In

Three Hours

TWO INTERMEDIATE CALLS

Licence to Union Airways, Ltd.

The grant of a commercial aircraft service licence to Union Airways of New Zealand. Ltd., for the route Wel-lington-Auckland was announced by the Minister of Transport. Hon. R. Semple, yesterday. “The inauguration of this service represents an important development in the Dominion’s air services," said Air. Semple, “and in the very near future our two largest cities will be within three hours’ travel time of each other. Tlie service will be a daily one, with regular calls at Palmerston North and New Plymouth. “The northward plane will leave Wellington at 12 noon, arriving at Palmerston North at 12.38, -New Plymouth at 1.46 and Auckland at 3 p.m. On the southward journey the plane will leave Auckland at noon, arriving at New Plymouth at 1-4 p.m., Palmerston North at 2.12, and Wellington at 3 pirn. “I have given close attention to the question of fares, and have approved a through fare of £6, with intermediate fares of £l/10/- for the WellingtonPalmerston North section; ‘£2 for the Palmerston North-New Plymouth section: and £3 for the section New Ply-mouth-Auckland.” . The Minister added that provision is made in the licence for three machines of a type to be approved by the Government. OPENING OF SERVICE Northern Airport Ready In January TYPE OF MACHINE The opening of the service will depend upon the time taken to purchase and assemble aeroplanes suitable for the route and is related also to the progress of improvements to the aerodrome at Mangere, Auckland. Between Wellington and Auckland the planes will have to fly 337 miles on the direct Hue between stops, or 415 miles round the coast line, or 3i6 miles on the average route distances. This has to be done, to maintain schedule, In three hours, with ten-minute stops at Palmerston North and New Plymouth. The type of machine to be used has not yet been announced. In its application for the licence the company specified that it would employ an approved type of twin-engined aeroplane, of modern design, equipped with blind-flying instruments, radio receiving and sending sets, and all other aids to safe flying, each machine to have two pilots. Multi-engined aircraft will be used to provide practical immunity from forced landing through engine trouble. On the Auckland-Wellington run the planes will have a longer water crossing than on any leg of the Palmerston North-Dunedin service—that from New Plymouth to Auckland. It was stated at the time of the application for the licence that the-machines would probably have seating for from six to eight passengers. New Zealand air transport companies have up to now shown a unanimous preference for British aeroplanes for regular lines, but some difficulty is experienced at present in securing prompt delivery of commercial machines from Great Britain because many factories are working night and day to fill orders for the Royal Air Force. Machines from other countries are being adopted increasingly for airline use. A London cablegram yesterday revealed that British Airways, Ltd., a company subsidised by the Government, had been authorised by the Air Ministry to buy American airliners for the service between London and Sweden, because British manufacturers could not. give delivery of the type desired for nine months, whereas suitable planes were available in four months from the United States. The Australian ban on American machines for commercial operation was lifted some time ago, partly because of the difficulty of obtaining British machines quickly, and Douglas, Lockheed, and Stinson airliners are now flying in Australia. A second Douglas just bought by Australian National Airways Is on the Hauraki now visiting New Zealand ports, and a Lockheed for Guinea Airways. Ltd., recently passed through Wellington. British Airways, Ltd., will use Lockheeds on the service to Scandinavia The Lockheed Electra is a low-wing all-metal monoplane with two Pratt and Whitney Wasp. Jr. engines. Ten passengers and two pilots are carried, and both the pilot cabin and passenger cabin are elaborately fitted for comfort. The Electra can maintain a cruising speed of 180 miles an hour. It was developed to meet the demand for a fast passenger and light freight transport machine combining safety with “payability,” and has features which would make it suitable for some routes in New Zealand. All New Zealand aviation companies operating on regular schedule at present use machines made in England. Union Airways. Ltd., has D.H. Express airliners (four engines) on the service between Palmerston North and Dunedin, Cook Strait Airways, Ltd., uses D.H. Rapides (two engines) on its services to Blenheim, Nelson, and Wellington. East Coast Airways, Ltd., has D.H. Dragons (two engines) on the Line between Napier and Gisborne, and Air Travel (N.Z.), Ltd., has Fox Moths (one engine) in jse on the West Coast of the South Island.

Whether British makers can supply machines of the type suited to the new ■route within a reasonable time can only be ascertained by inquiry in Eng land. Cook Strait Airways. Ltd., has another Rupide on order, but it is expected that this machine will not be delivered till January or February, Rongotai (Wellington), Milson (Palmerston North), Bell Block (New Plymouth). and Mangere (Auckland) are ..prodromes suitable tor use by machines carrying eight passengers, although reconstruction work is at present being carried cut at Mangere. It is exjiected, however, that the ground wifi be fit for use by commercial services in January,