AIR SERVICE AND WIRELESS

Evening Post, Volume XCVII, Issue 56, 8 March 1919, Page 13

AIR SERVICE AND WIRELESS

A REMARKABLE SCHEME.

' A representative of the Press Association in December last had an interview at Marconi House with Mr. Godfrey Isaacs, managing-director of the Marconi Wireless Telegraph Companies, Ltd., with reference to the new organisation for the development of the air service for passengers, mails, parcels post, and parcels delivery for even larger goods. The service, will commence in the United Kingdom and the immediate Continent, but will later develop to all parts of the world. A measure'of safety is going to play an important part in the rapidity with which the services are developed, and it must be apparent that safety will be increased by the assistance of wireless and a thorough and complete organisation for its effective use. The company will be propared to supply every aeroplane with a combined wireless and telegraph installation, and to supply with it an efficient and thoroughly qualified operator, adopting the same system as in force with regard to ships, viz., keeping the apparatus up to date, maintaining it in perfect working condition, and supplying the operator at a combined charge rate per annum. They_ will issue charts giving the exact position of a number of their stations in all parts 'of the world, and these will be furnished with direction-finders, which will serve to give the operator the exact position of the aeroplane wherever it may be. ftere will also be charts issued dividing the air into zones, each of which will be numbered. They will at given periods send out air reports, and in return will receive air reports. Record charts will be issued from time to time showing these reports, which will serve as. comparisons ot disturbances in the air, and will furnish valuable information for the guiding of pilots. General weather reports will be issued from the different stations, both at Home and abroad, in respect of which the associated companies situated in foreign, countries will take part, and these will be of great value. The large number of ships at sea upon which there are Marconi installations will help in the complete organisation. The same facilities will be given to aeroplanes as are afforded to ships, viz., they will have accounts with the Marconi Company to send telegrams from the air to any part of the world. As every aeroplane will doubtless have either a name or distinguishing number, it will be possible to send telegrams from any part of the world, or from any ship on the sea, to the aeroplane. There are now no fewer than 4000 ships with the Marconi installation, worked by Marconi operators. It is intended that this organisation will be ready by the time' peace is signed, and the relaxation of restrictions will allow the free fight of aeroplanes.

It is interesting to note in connection with air service and wireless development, that arrangements have recently been made for the erection of wireless stations in the extreme parts of China, one on the frontiers of Cashmere, and the other on the Chinese side of Siberia. Mr. Godfrey Isaacs said with reference to this contract: "In ordinary times I should havo hesitated before accepting such an undertaking, for I shall have to get, machinery right across China and to arrange for the transport without a wheel, for there. is neither railway nor road. But the air service has come to my aid, and I have arranged with Mr. Handley-Page for the transport by one or more of his big machines. The journey inland will take two or three days, in place of the same number of months, besides the safe crossing of n dangerous bit of country, which would have made it not worth while had it not been for this newly-developed air force."