AIR SERVICES

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

AIR SERVICES

WEATHER INFORMATION

ROUTES ACROSS OCEANS PROVISION OF STATIONS FAR-REACHING PROPOSALS Plans for the adequate provision of meteorological information for air services across the * Pacific and Tasman oceans were outlined yesterday by Major E. H. Bowie, head of the United States Weather Bureau, San Francisco, when ho arrived at Auckland by the Mariposa from Sydney after discussing meteorological services with Australian officials. The plans were formulated by the recent regional meteorological conference for the South West Pacific hold at Wellington and were forwarded to the authorities as recommendations for the proper development of aviation in this part of the world. One of the basin convictions of the conference, said Major Bowie, and one which had been expressed by a resolution, was that meteorological services for aviation and particularly transocean routes could not be undertaken without adequate facilities for radio communication. For transocean routes it considered that commercial cable services could not adequately meet the requirements and that provision must be made for point-to-point communication between terminals. Sunday Island Stations The conference also considered that the futuro meteorological requirements of transocean air routes ovor the South-West Pacific would necessitate the establishment of complete meteorological 'collecting and forecasting centres at Honolulu, "Samoa, and/or Fiji, Auckland and at the New Zealand and Australian transtasman terminals. Among the recommendations made for the provision of adequate information was one emphasising the importance of meteorological reports from the Kermadec Islands. The conference was of the opinion that the regular reception of such reports must be considered essential if. an adequate x meteorological service was to be provided for transocean aviation and it recommended very strongly that a permanent station be established at Raoul, or Sunday. Island. Co-operation of Shipping

Satisfaction had been felt, said Major j Bowie, that the Australian meteorological authorities were recommending the establishment of full meteorological stations at Lord Howe Island, Norfolk Island and on two vesisels engaged in the transtasman service. The conference had also considered it desirable that steps should be taken to establish similar stations at Tulagi, in the Solomon Islands, Vila, in the New Hebrides Suva, Canton Island, Nukualofa and Rarotonga as soon as possible. In addition, because of their importance for transocean aviation, the conference would welcome the taking of pilot balloon observations on board the Monterey and Mariposa while on their way from the United States to New Zealand and Australia. Similar co-operation from other ships in this region would also be welcomed. The view had also been expressed that an increase in the number of reports from ships in the region was essential to the preparation of adequate meteorological reports to meet the needs of shipping and aviation, and services were requested by recommendation to take appropriate action to this end. Regional Committee It was .considered, Major Bowie continued, that the International Commission for Aeronautical Meteorology should be requested to appoint a standing committee for the transpacific and transtasman air routes, the committee to consist of representatives of the services concerned with the provision of meteorological information. The communication arrangements between terminals must be such that continuous two-way radio communication was available for use by meteorological services. The development of transocean air services would necessitate a 24-hour meteorological service at all terminals on seven days of the week and it was considered that the maximum interval between regular synoptic reports should be six hours, with three hours as the goal as the services developed. New Zealand Stations Another important recommendation was that the various administrations should take suitable action from time to time to ensure that an efficient standard of meteorological equipment and observational technique Was maintained on ship stations under their control. t For the preparation of suitable information it is recommended that the following New Zealand stations should be included in the collective reports obtained for broadcasting:—Norfolk Island, KermadecSj Cape Maria Van Dieinen, Russell, Kaipara, Hobsonville, Hamilton, Tauranga, Opotiki, East Cape, Kawhia, Taupo, Gisborne, New Plymouth, Capo 'Egmont, Portland Island, Napier, Wanganui, Palmerston North, Castlepoint, Masterton, Farewell Spit, Karamea, Stephens Island, Wellington, Nelson. Cape Campbell, Kaikoura, Westport, Greymouth, Hokitika, Arthur's Pnss, Christchurch. Akaroa Lighthouso, Jackson's Bay, Fairlic, Timaru, Oamaru, Taiaroa Heads, Quecnstown, Nuggets, Bluff, Puysegur Point and Chatham Island.