COAST AIR SERVICE

Greymouth Evening Star, 23 February 1937, Page 2

COAST AIR SERVICE

FIRST FLIGHT ABANDONED

Poor visibility, owing to mist and fog, along the whole of the West. Coast caused the abandoning, this morning, of the first service flight from Nelson to Greymouth and Hokitika, by Cook Strait Airways Ltd. The plane lett Nelson at 8 a;ni., as scheduled carrying three passengers for Hokitika, and a large quantity of mail, bitt after proceeding along the coast as far as Fare- ' well' Spit', the" pilot’ found’ conditions’ were getting worse, with poor visibility and iff view of the adverse meteorological reports concerning the conditi.o.ns_nortil..of ..Westport, ancl. the. definite instructions of the Company that no risks whatsoever are to be taken on the route, he decided to return to Nelson.- Tlie- Greymouth- radio station operated by the Company., ZLU, Was in communication ■ with- Nelson, and was advised shortly after 9 a.m. 'that the plane was- returning;- - It was intended to resume the flight at 1 p.m., buff as -conditions along the coast had not improved, it was decided that-' the- flight- should he abandoned for the day. Conditions permitting, the ’plane will make-the'-scheduled flight to-morrow, and will bring, to-day s passengers and mails;- It" is* understood that conditions were also unfavourable over Cook Strait this morning, but the ’planes got through.