COMMERCIAL AVIATION.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 16 November 1928, Page 10

COMMERCIAL AVIATION.

DEFINITE STEPS TAKEN. ' AUCKLAND'S AIR TAXI. The coming of commercial aviation to New Zealand is heralded by the announcement that an Auckland company, Southern Cross Airways, Ltu , with a capital of .-£SOOO. has ordered a Blackburn Bluebird aeroplane from England. The machine is to .lie shipped during the next three weeks, and is expected to be landed in Now Zealand early in the New; Year for nymg during the summer holidays. The purchase price is in the vicinity of £I2OO. The company’s first machine wil. have a land and water under-canmgc. which will enable it to serve both inland and coastal towns. The BJackburn Bluebird is' really a two-seater, but, as the ■ company’s machine will be used only for short trips, some of the baggage space will be utilised to provide accommodation for a second passenger in addition to the pilot. Experienced pilot's are of opinion that land and water machines have a creat future in New Zealand, particularly as there are many land-locked harbours where an aeroplane with floats' can safely even m fairlv boisterous weather. T nti.l, the public has acquired the “air sense” to patronise aerial taxis in cases where expeditious transport )s tequirecl. the eomnany’s machine will probably be available for flights to and from: the seaside resorts round Auckland. l" n passengers would be taken up foi a flight of five minutes’ duration at a charge of 10s each. As for the more commercial work, the coinpain intends to act in co-operation with the Aard motor service, and arrangements are being made whereby the machine can be booked for flights at short notice. It is expected that the first aeroplane will meet with a targedemand this summer from tourists wish in o- to spend a few hours at Rotorua or Tan no while a madbont: is m port.