AIR SERVICE

Hokitika Guardian, 15 July 1935, Page 5

AIR SERVICE

ENGLAND TO NEW ZEALAND LONDON, July 13. Plans have already been matte ior the use of two flying-boats to leave England each week for Australia and New Zealand in 1937. The Controller of Civil Aviation in Australia, Captain Johneston, the British Deputy-Director, Mr Berthain, and ImPeral Airways officials are still discussing the financial practicability of operating the LondonNew Zealand air route exclusively by flying-boats. Plans now being made, however, indicate that by 1937 five machines will leave England each week—two livingboats for New Zealand, two land aeroplanes terminating in India and a third living-boat for China, via Bangkok or Borneo. The boats will descend on the Euphrates, the Persian Gulf and the North Indian lakes, but it is emphasised that, even if they are forced down, it is safer Ilian with land aeroplanes, because the hull acts as a skid, ensuring the safety of the passengers and the machine, whereas, although •passengers mav ho rescued, land aeroplanes are lost if forced down at sea. Tt will therefore he practicable for boats on the way to Sydney to descend in the Gulf of Carpentaria and then go overland in a south-easterly direction. The increased services will be aceomnanierl bv an important change in Imperial Airways’ policy, as the machines leaving England will continue to 'uslralia. because the dispatching of all mails by air will eliminate the small loads sit, present provontinsr the I profitable ntiisation of Ihig machines on the final stages.