STRAIT AIRWAYS

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 12750, 4 January 1936, Page 2

STRAIT AIRWAYS

BRTSK PATRONAGE RELTEE PILOT CHOSEN. (Press Association.l NELSON. Jan. 3-

Although they have been in operation only since Monday last, Cook Strait Airways states that they will bo called upon to use their ’planes for a greater number of hours than scheduled, and for this reason they have engaged a relief pilot who will assist Captain G. Bolt and FlyingOffrcer Orchard.

Tho company has selected Mr. R. -Mathoson, one of the few pilots in New Zealand licensed to fly all types of machines. He. has over 2090 flying hours. Mr. Matheson has flown over 30 types of aeroplanes, including single and multiengined ’planes, light aeroplanes, auto-giros, and German soaring craft. Mr. Matheson learnt to fly in the Canterbury Flying School in 1918, and had a short service commission in the Royal Air Force. Since then ho has been exclusively engaged in aviation in New Zealand.

The ’planes have now been, running for four days, giving two trips each way between Nelson and Wellington, two trips each way between Blenheim and; Wellington and one each way between Blenheim and Nelson. Practically all) the trips have been fully booked and the forward bookings are very heavyThe ’planes have maintained the timetable to the minute. The company uses one pilot on the morning services, and tho other for the afternoon trip for a week, (then reversing the pilots’ working hours. The additional pilot will he available for the company’s West Coast service when it is commenced. Altogether the service has been a great success in every way.