NORTH ATLANTIC

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22509, 28 August 1936, Page 11

NORTH ATLANTIC

COMING AIR SERVICE BRITISH INVESTIGATIONS WEATHER FORECASTS PLANNED By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright British Wireless RUGBY", {August 26 Two of the new Empire flyingboats should be afloat at Rochester and ready for their final trials within the next 10 days. " One of the machines is intended by Imperial Airways for immediate service in the Mediterranean between Brindisi and Alexandria. The other is destined for long-range ex-*'.' perimental flights in connection with the preparation of the Northj Atlantic route. Other machines which are now under construction and which will engage in similar long-distance experiments are a Mayo, a composite aircraft, and a de Havilland Albatross. In preparation for the North Atlantic service, air pilots, meteorologists and observation station staffs have been working in Newfoundland since the autumn of 1934 on accumulating data for one of the most comprehensive wea-i ther forecasting schemes ever devised. The investigations, which have beenundertaken on behalf of the Air Ministry and the Canadian and Newfoundland authorities, include the charting of the upper air and the examination of the prevalence of fog in the Newfoundland zone and over the mouth of the St. Lawrence River. The objects of the meteorological organisation to be set up, are to keep pilots on the Atlantic route informed of the movements of fog and to lead them through clear chancels; the charting of tho upper air; and to provide data upon which it is hoped a high degree of accuracy in forecasting the weather can be based. The principle of radio control is to be extended and pilots will be instructed as to their course and landing places by radio in accordance with the weather reports.