PACIFIC AIR SERVICE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 1, 29 November 1937, Page 12

PACIFIC AIR SERVICE.

ESSENTIAL PRELIMINARY. METEOROLOGICAL ADVICE. Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, Nov. 26. A thoroughly-organised and highly-co-ordinated meteorological service covering the south-west Pacific is regarded as an essential preliminary to any attempt to establish regular air services to New Zealand by Major E. H. Bowie, officer in charge of the United States Weather Bureau, San Francisco, who hag arrived at Auckland. He is visiting the Dominion to represent the United States at , the meteorological conference to be held at Wellington from November 29 Until December 4. Stressing the importance of the projected deliberations, Major Bowie said tho conference, which had been called by Dr E. Kidson, Director of Meteorological Services in New Zealand was a sub-commission of the international meteorological organisation. Representatives would be present froin weather bureaux operating in the area, and it was hoped to fix standard hours of observation, the nature of the data to be obtained, the code most suitable for its transmission and methods of disseminating knowledge by means of radio. ‘‘l really think regular flying over the route between San Francisco and Auckland should be deferred until a meteorological service is thoroughly organised,” Major Bowie said “At the present stage it would be very much like trying to drive an automobile over a track that was meant for a logger. It cannot be done with the maximum of safety. In the United Staths every safeguard is taken before experimental flights are completed, and on the run between San Francisco and Manila the Pan-American Airways service was in operation for a year before passengers were carried.” Major Bowie referred to the success of co-ordinated meteorological work carried on by the United States and Canada since 1873. It had been conducted most amicably and with distinct success, though no memorandum or understanding had ever been drawn up between the two countries. 11l the south-west Pacific, however, each state was working independently of the others, and it wag to standardise and combine the efforts of the various bureaux that the conference had been called at Wellington. Discussing weather conditions on the aerial route between San Francisco and Auckland, Mr Bowie said storms were experienced in the winter season oil the northern section to Hawaii, but there was nothing that could be classed as hazardous when meteorological aid was enlisted. A west-boiind aeroplane flying at a low altitude had the benefit of following north-east trade, winds and east-bound machines, by cruising at a higher level, would be assisted by What were known as the counter tradewinds which blew in the opposite direction. “FrOm a knowledge of these facts, it is easy to realise that it is imperative to gain data at regular intervals on the upper air conditions,” he continued. “The Matson liners Lurline and Malolo, plying between Sail Francisco and Honolulu, are specially equipped to take these observations at 10,000 Or 15,000 feet and to transmit them to the bureau, and it seems that similar Work might be performed by the Monterey and Mariposa on the more southern section when need arises.” There was nothing on the route to make flying difllcult, hut he Would not advocate the establishment of a service until the fundamental ground organisation was operating efficiently. This could not be developed in a day or a week, ahd following the Conference delegates would return to their respective countries and discuss the application of the methods that had been considered desirable. Finance would then be a consideration, but, assuming that the proposals Were approved by each Government, it would be at least six months before a highlySatiSfactory Service could be Operating. In addition to safeguarding aircraft, it Would also be of immense value to shipping, in the preparation of domestic weather reports.