NEW AIR LINE

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXXII, Issue 12528, 13 April 1935, Page 7

NEW AIR LINE

PALMERSTON NORTH TO DUNEDIN. CAPITAL OF £IOO,OOO PLANS PRACTICALLY COMPLETE. (Press Association). PALMELSTON N., A pri] 'l2. Plans for the operation by Union Airways Limited of a trunk air service for which a License has been granted, the route being from Palmerston North to Dunedin.. , via Christchurch) aiu practically complete. It is anticipated l that tbc service will commence in October or November. Four welt known New Zealand pilots are to be engaged by - the company. Squadron-Leader M. C. McGregor, instructor of i lie -MaHawaii! Aero Club, has been appointed manager of tbc service, and leaves for England on Tuesday next to select the planes to be used. He wild proceed via America, in order to inspect- wireless equipment. Though the exact type of machine to be used has not yet been decided upon th 0 service is to be started with three twin-engined British planes, each capable of carrying eight- or ten passengers, and a smaller service machine operating a short trunk line which can bo fed by branches. The company is providing a capital of £IOO,OOO for fast machines, wireless equipment, both beacon and telephone and ground organisation. The service wid be co-ordinated with the Limited express from Auckland. The terminus at this centre can also be fed from Taranaki and the East Coast. It is not intended to do night flying at the beginning. Flying will be done on the ‘airline’ sys'-rem r>vP tlio uso of directional beam wireless for whicli beacons ar c to be erected at Palmerston North, Blenheim, Christchurch, and Dunedin. The ground organisation will, call for tho services of considerable personnel. Possibly three- or four men will bo stationed at Palmerston North, besides attendants at other centres' on the routo. Two large hangars each with a; floor space of 4203 square feet are to ho erected at Mi Ison aerodrome for the company’s planes. On tho .top of the administrative block and offices will be built a control tower.