INTERNAL AIR SERVICES' FINE RECORD

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22617, 21 April 1948, Page 4

INTERNAL AIR SERVICES ' FINE RECORD

A S far as can be gathered from reports covering it, the accident which occurred at Tauranga to the Gisborne-bound aircraft en route from Auckland has not tarnished the fine reputation earned by New Zealand’s internal air services. Under both Union Airways and the National Airways Corporation the country’s civil aviation has developed along safety-first lines. Flying over these narrow, sea-girt islands has always called for considerable skill and keen judgment on the part of pilots; the standard reached not only in piloting and navigation but also in ground servicing lias been so consistently efficient that the public have learned to place implicit faith in flying as a safe and convenient means of travel. The. heavy bookings tell their own story of the confidence reposed in the services. This confidence should not be weakened by the descent of the Lockheed Electra aircraft, Kaliu, into the harbour at Tauranga. It will be the duty of an official body of inquiry to determine exactly what happened and to make observations on the state of the weather at the time. It is sufficient. for the moment to sympathise with all those aboard in their experience, and to express thankfulness that there were no casualties. It is also a suitable time for recalling with appreciation the great record of the internal air services since their inception. Only the other day it was reported that they had maintained a 99 per cent regularity on scheduled trips during the three months’ period ended on December 31. last. This has been typical of many years of civil aviation and typical also of the high standard of performance by New Zealanders in the course of the war.