AIR SERVICE

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 17, 21 January 1939, Page 15

AIR SERVICE

TASMAN ROUTE

RADIO EQUIPMENT

MILITARY USES '

Plans for the provision of radio equipment for' the trans-Tasman air service are well advanced in New Zealand, a considerable amount of the required material being at Auckland, the Minister in Charge of Aviation; (the Hon. F. Jones) stated today. The radio-direction stations oh the Tasman, route would, be of value to both commercial and -military aircraft in the

future,

The Australian Government was attending to the Sydney terminal and the intermediate station at Lord Howe Island, and the New Zealand Government would prepare the New Zealand terminal on land already selected at Auckland, Mr. Jones said. Plans were well advanced for the establishment of a fully-equipped station, and if the material on hand had to be' supplemented the approval of. further purchases would be secured at an early date. .

Mr. Jones said he did not know whether the Auckland ' station would eventually direct both. trans-Tasman and trans-Pacific aircraft or. not. At the present time Pan-American Airways had a station at Auckland, but a combined station might be used later. As a layman, he could not express an opinion on the practicability of such an arrangement. It was probable that the initial buildings for the transTasman directional plant would be, of temporary structure, and that a permanent station would be erected later.

When the Minister was asked if the station would have a military value, he said the directional apparatus would undoubtedly be used for military purposes if required. When the longrange bombers on order were flown to New Zealand in the spring they would be able to take advantage of the Auckland facilities during their flight across the Tasman Sea. Australian machines visiting New Zealand would also Be able to use it. In reply to a question, Mr. Jones said it was possible that long-distance flights might form part of the training of the men who would operate the bombers. The Tasman crossing would be a matter of only six or seven hours for the new machines, and the. radio stations would be very useful. ••