AVIATION

Greymouth Evening Star, 22 March 1935, Page 2

AVIATION

PETROL FROM COAL.

[BY CABLE —PBESS ASSN. —COPYBIGHT.]

RUGBY, March 20.

In view of the Government policy in assisting production of petrol from coal interest was attached to a statement bv Sir P. Sassoon, in the Commons, that nine squadrons of the Royal Air Force are now flying entirely and with satisfactory results on spirit derived by low temperature carbonisation of British coal. Sir P. Sassoon also referred to the progress being made with British compression ignition engines, and .drew attention to the fact that the world record altitude for aeroplanes fitted with heavy oil engine was established by a British machine last May, with a height of 28,000 feet.

WELLINGTON DROME.

WELLINGTON, March 21

Efforts to arrange a merger of interests between the contending parties for the trunk air service license are now being made, as the result of today’s sitting of the Transport Coordination Board. At the sitting of the Board this afternoon, Squadron-Leader Issitt read reports from the Directors of the Air and Meteorological Services, dealing with the possibility of the regular operation of the route. It would be impossible to get into or out of Rongotai, he said, on at. least ten per cent, of the days, owing to the defective visibility. He added that an alternative aerodrome within a radius of 30 or 40 miles of Wellington was essential. The Board will sit again to-mor-row.

DEPUTATION TO MINISTER.

WELLINGTON, March 21.

A deputation waited on the Minister of Finance, following the sitting of the Transport Co-ordination Board to-day, and urged that all the main centres should be covered by any air service licensed. Replying, the Minister agreed that a start should be made in the best way economically possible. It was lifficult to see that a service eliminating Auckland and Invercargill could bo satisfactory.

MERGER NOT ARRANGED.

WELLINGTON. March 22

Transport Co-ordination Board has still before it the question of a license for the main trunk air services. This morning, representatives of the applying companies again met in an endeavour to reach an agreement, but without success. The Board will therefore proceed with the hearing of the individual application. P. E. Pattrick, and A. R. Hislop, representing the Wellington Chamber of Commerce, this morning strongly urged that Wellington should be a point of call in any trunk service, which was not provided for in proposed route of the Union Airways. Yesterday afternoon, Squadron-Leader Isitt had said Rongotai would be closed by weather conditions against regular aircraft operation on ten per cent, of the days. Mr Hislop said the Chamber would be satisfied with 90 per cent, of a regular service. Much of the discussion centred round the suitability of Rongotai. the Chairman suggesting that a suitable new year resolution for the Chamber would be to buy bigger and better aerodromes. S.T. PAGEANT. NELSON, March 22. The South Island Air Pageant commenced this morning in glorious weather. The zero hour competition was won by the ZK—AAX, Western Federated (J. Strachan, pilot), which arrived exactly at 11.30 a.m. A.C.H. Western Federated, arrived at 11.29'] a.m.; A.A.A., Marlborough, 11.29 A a.m.; A.8.A., Manawatu, 11.291 a.m.; A.8.E.. Wairarapa, 11.30 A a.m. A large number of machines are arriving to-morrow, and the function promises to be a great success.