The Evening Star TUESDAY, AUGUST 22, 1939. AVIATION AND THE WEATHER.

Evening Star, Issue 23351, 22 August 1939, Page 8

The Evening Star TUESDAY, AUGUST 22, 1939. AVIATION AND THE WEATHER.

It has been truly said that aviation is made safe from the ground. On the one hand efficiency must be shown in the care of aero engines and in matters of general construction and overhaul, while, on the other it is important that meteorological data should be collected at the earliest possible moment from what in the ordinary course of events would be regarded as widely divergent sources. In the development of all branches of civil aviation Australia and New Zealand are playing their part in a manner worthy of the Empire’s position in the trade and commerce of the world. The pilots and ground engineers of the dominions are known to possess the high British standard in technique and natural ability, and the science of meteorology is keeping pace with the more practical issues. From the point of view of forecasting the weather over the uneasy Tasman

Sea every form of guidance necessary appears to be available for the information of the crew of the flying boat Aotearoa, now winging her way from the Old World preparatory to taking up her permanent commission. At any rate, the Australian Government Meteorologist, Dr D. J. Mares, is quoted in a cablegram published to-day as saying that efficient facilities of this kind would be operating for the inauguration of the service in October. The complete co-ordination for which arrangements have been made means establishment of a 24 hours’ forecasting service. New Zealand’s share in the work provides for a comprehensive network which includes the installation of a meteorological station at Mechanics’ Bay, Auckland, where, in the administration building of Tasman Empire Airways, reports are continually received from all over the Dominion, the Pacific Islands, and Australia. It is stated that eighty New Zealand stations report four times each day and that frequent observations come from Australia.

A particularly interesting feature of the arrangements is the fitting of the transtasman liners, the Awatea and the Wanganella, with meteorological recorders for the purpose of collecting and collating data supplementary but necessary to the land services. This is part of the programme drawn Up in collaboration by the Australian and New Zealand Governments for giving the fullest aid to aircraft. Furthermore, the observations taken at sea arc expected to supply a vast additional field of information for local shore requirements, so that an improvement in the accuracy of the Dominion forecasts generally must result. A few months ago Dr E. Marsden, secretary of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (the department controlling this service) stated that the two Governments had joined in supplying the equipment for the vessels and that the Commonwealth Government was providing a further service by arranging for a pilot to accompany one of the ships as a balloon observer. The duty of this official would be to release meteorological balloons from the sea and keep in touch with other observers working as part of the general scheme. The equipment on the two transtasman liners' would be far superior to that which had been utilised for Tasman observations in the past. In Australia stations have been established ‘ which will forecast and advise for intercapital and interstate aviation services as well as for the Empire flying heats and the Royal Dutcli Airways Service. Since to a world-wide Empire the incentive to be in the van in enterprise in the air has the same compelling reasons of honour, enterprise, and prestige as the maintenance of a mercantile marine, it is distinctly heartening to note that nothing making for the greatest possible efficiency and safety is being left to chance hero or elsewhere.