AIR TRUNK SERVICES

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXXII, Issue 12530, 16 April 1935, Page 3

AIR TRUNK SERVICES

WELLINGTON NO']' TO BE INCLUDED. EMERGENCY LANDING GROUND NEEDED. WELLINGTON. April 14. • Special reference to " oiling ton as an intermediate port of call in connection with air trunk services was made by the Transport Co-ordination Board in its judgment last week on applications for trunk service licenses. Incidentally it said: — “We desire to refer to the special case of Wellington ns regards a -n.v t flying service in which it is an intermediate port of call. Subject to the report of a special committee which may result in some modification °f its views, the Board feels it is incumbent upon it to make 'special provisions having regard to the difficulty and danger of making calls at "Wellington, due mainly to climatic reasons. The same consideration does not apply to an equal extent to the short distance flights already licensed between Wellington and Benhcim . and between Wellington and Nelson, because on them the weather conditions in 'Wellington can L>c* more easilv forecasted when the flights begin. For the long distance flights, further precautions must be taken. Evidence given by experts, and not shows that on at least' 1.0 per cent of the flying days a landing at and departure from Wellington could not be made according to timetable, and that on at least live per cent of such days a landing or departure could not be made at all. ••Wo are fully aware of the importance of Wellington as the. capital city and the local point of all business interests in the Dominion, lmt wo cannot take the responsibility of allowing Wellington L> be a regular port of call under present conditions. The personal safety of travellers is involved, and, in view of the disthnee Worn either binding grounds, we feel it would be wrong for .us to allow pilots 'lo ! take the risk of landing at Wellington without certain restrictions. Wo realise tho importance of this decision but wo realise also our duty'in the mattor. With pas'-cefcers for Wellington on board, or with passengers 1° pick up (ho temptation would ‘be strong to land under dangerous conditions. “The aerodrome at Rougntaj may bo. as goo,] a« some witnesses say. or it. may be capable of improvement hut in addition to it (or in substitution for it) there must be “a landing ground provided at some other place more remote from the dangerous climatic conditions which prevail in Wellington. Such a, ground 1 should be sought and prepared for thq service. We arc informed that Porirua would probably not he satisfactory, but it may be possible to obtain one at Paokakariki. Until such a. ground is' available at least for emergency landings, wc cannot allow a regular call at Wellington. Even at Croydon, where all the latest appliances aro in'use* it appears it is frequently impossible to land and an emergency ground l is used.”