CHARTER FLIGHTS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22569, 24 February 1948, Page 6

CHARTER FLIGHTS

TASMANJSERVICE USE OF SKYMASTERS TRIP BY CONSTELLATION P.A.) AUCKLAND. Feb 21 Plans for interim air services between New Zealand and Australia to operate while Tasman Empire Airways fleet of Tasman-class flying-boats is grounded are announced by the company. Arrangements have been made for flights by Skymasters and a Constellation and, in addition, a Hythe fl.vingboat of tiie British Overseas Airways Corporation may also assist. The general manager of the company. Mr. G. X. Roberts, said that four charter flights would be made this week by Skymnstcr planes of Trans-Australia Airlines, leaving Sydney at 2 o’clock in the morning. New Zealand time, and landing at Whenuanai Those aircraft were due at 8 o'clock this morning, on Wednesday and Thursday and again on Sunday The return flights to Sydney would begin two or three hours after their arrival at Whenuapai. Carry 42 Passengers Tim Skymasters would each carry 4? people. "Til addition, a Constellation aircraft of Qnntns Empire Airways will make one return flight between Svdncy and Ohnken on Wednesday of this week,' Roberts continued. “It will arrive at Ohnken early in the morning and leave for Sydney approximately two hours later. The company has also made tentative arrangements for one return service by a British Overseas Airways Hvtlie flyine-bont on Thursday of this week." he added. “Further charter flights will take place next week, but the exact number is not vet known. “As the services are now behind schedule it will bo necessary to give preference to through passengers and return ticket-holders,” Mr. Roberts said. “This may affect travellers in other categories, but every effort will he made 1o cause passengers the least possible inconvenience. “Passengers will be advised as soon ns pos-iMc of their revised dates of travel.” Removal of Engines. The last of Tasman Airways flyingboats to cross the Tasman until engine modifications arc made to prevent overheating, the New Zealand, arrived from Sydney yesterday afternoon without her norma] complement of passengers. In addition to her regular crew, however, she carried a Pratt and Whitney engine expert. Mr. F. M. Gardner, Melbourne, who will assist the company’s engineers in modifying the motors of the four planes. No time has been lost by the company in beginning the work of removing the engines from its planes for 'vmdio-,ntj„,i The four ermines were taken from one of the aircraft yesterday. It, is expected that much of the work will be done at Hobsonvillc. The grounding of Tasman Empire Airwavs flying-boats and damage at Fiji to the hull of the National Airways Corporation’s flying-boat Mataatua and her temporary withdrawal from the service has resulted in the corporation chartering a Skymnstcr of British Commonwealth Pacific Airlines to maintain the schedule between Auckland and Fiji this week. Norman schedules are being maintained by the corporation’s Douglas planes on rH-nrK run.