WEATHER DATA

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22933, 11 January 1938, Page 13

WEATHER DATA

DOMINION'S PROGRESS AHEAD OF AUSTRALIA AMERICAN AUTHORITY'S VIEWS In the short time since she began to establish them, New Zealand has made rapid progress Avith her meteorological services for air transport, stated Major E. H. Bowie, officer in charge of the United States Weather Bureau, San Francisco, who was a delegate to the regional meteorological conference for the South-West Pacific held recently at Wellington, when he arrived at Auckland by the Mariposa from Sydney yesterday after observing Australian meteorological services. More development was, of course, needed, he said, but good groundwork was there and he thought future expansion would be on the organisation side rather than on that of personnel, which was very well qualified". Efficient ineteorological services were essential for the safe running of air lines, whether commercial or defensive, he said, when asked if some of the Australian accidents could be traced to the meteorological aspect of Australian aviation. Rapid Development Anticipated In the Commonwealth meteorological organisation was not yet properly developed and was not as good as the service already provided in New Zeuland. However, he had been told that a large proportion of the money needed for. a complete meteorological service had already been made available and he anticipated that in both New Zealand and Australia future development would be very rapid.

The services to be provided would undoubtedly have to be organised on a national basis if full efficiency was to be obtained. Such services would fall short of requirements if they were confined to one company or were the personal property of one company. Moreovei, they would have to be international in iheir scope, providing; adequate information for all the aircraft and airway companies or services needing them. They would have to be sponsored by the State. Physical Fitness ol Pilots

Another development which could not be far off, said Major Bowie, was the medical examination of all pilots immediately before every commercial or passenger flight. It was coming to be recognised in the United States that if an aircraft engine was required to be running perfectly on such services, and wa3 submitted to a thorough examination before flights, it was just as essential that the pilot should be similarly fit. If this were not done the possibility of accidents, which might quite easily be caused by such eventualities as a pilot falling; asleep at the controls, would not be reduced to the absolute minimum which was needed for the proper development of aviation.

A pilot should not be allowed to board his craft if he was not absolutely physically fit. said Major Bowie. It was true that some companies in the United States submitted their pilots to medical examinations nt the completion of so many miles of flying, but the practice was not universal, although soon it would probably be so. New Zealand and Australia would not, hp thought, overlook tho desirability of such examinations.