CHANGES IN ROUTE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23413, 1 August 1939, Page 11

CHANGES IN ROUTE

THE BASES COMPLETED

WORK AT CANTON ISLAND

BOEING'S FIRST JOURNEY

NO PASSENGERS LIKELY

[BT TELEURAPH—SPECIAL REPORTER ] WELLINGTON, Monday In the course of his statement, Mr. Harold Gaitv said that all the bases on the South Papifio air route were now ready for ui;e. "Apart from the buses at San Francilico, Los Angeles and Honolulu," lie continued, "engineers! have completed their work at Canton Island and New Caledonia. Meteorological and radio facilities have been provided, as well as buildings, to accommodate passengers and- crew at overnight stopping places.

"Pan American Airways is looking forward to the inauguration of the Tasinan service because of the important link that it frill provide. When the Tasnian serrice is running, a through service will be available from the United States by \yay -of Auckland to Australia, thus covering the whole South Pacific area."

The facilities being provided by the Kew Zealand Government at the Musick Memorial radio centre for the

benefit of air services would be of the utmost value to Pan American' Air??*rs> Mr. Catty continued, and would be used in connection with tlie flights °i tiio Boeings. It was not anticipated Hint nny pnsEPiiprs would lie carried on the first 'Kl't, but on -lier second journey tlie Doing would probably bring officials of ,f> I liited Slates Government and °Prcse»tatjVcs of Pan American Airways,

liorough preparation at all stopping Paces on the 79.52-niile transocean air 'ite between San Francisco and Auck- „ ' a <i(l has been made by Pan American in anticipation of the early re- - , nption of the service interrupted by 0- loss of /the Sikorsky flying-boat "loan off Tutuila, American f anion, in January last year. The route thr,i )0 f ~m vu Vi,l 'it'S considerably from "t iollowed by the Samoan Clipper, ■e |o„g range of the new 42-ton Boeing having mado the variation .eastly possible. l I !? tpa, | /flying from San Francisco ntii r lO direct, the Boeing set tor the service, the South Seas Ripper, will call at Los Angeles, thus IVc'n an improved service on the 1„i C ,, ast - south from Hono"ju, the Boeing will not touch at ragman Reef, the tiny speck of land evi o< ? t a,:)ov e sea level, where ne Sikorsky refuelled from n floating Jslnml trave * direct to Canton A colony has boon established on „i ",' on Island, following the agreement JJuveen the United States and British concerning joint occu;«r y v rhoro aro " mv 75 111011 there. a bfl se has been built and equipped inaer the direction of Mr. Frank McAonzio, tho Pan, American airport en-

gineer, who supervised the construction of the company's terminal at Auckland.

1 lie Pan American supply ship North "aten left Canton Island last month after discharging 5000 tons of material and equipment, and the ground crew has since built an hotel, installed a power plant, radio station, meteorological. equipment and other essentials, as well as blasting; away the heads of coral to give a suitable runway for the South Seas Clipper. Already the main runway running east and west has been completed, and it is doubtful whether any other will be needed in view of the steadiness of the prevailing wind. 1' rom this island base the Clipper will travel in a south-westerly direction to the township of Nauville, New Caledonia. There, on the island of Nou, which was once a penal settlement, Pan American engineers under Mr. A. L. Lewis, formerly airport manager at Auckland, have provided another of the essential series of bases. Less work has been necessary than at Canton Island, however, as tiie harbour is well suited to the operation of marine aircraft and 110 blasting has been necessary to clear a runway. Moreover, the company has taken over some, of the old penal buildings with hurricane-proof walls several feet thick and has converted them for use as airport buildings. Representatives of the company have also been active in New Zealand. Moorings for use in an emergency have been retained at Russell and radio facilities will also, be provided there. Tho bulk of the work, however, has been done at Auckland, where the base is ready for immediate use.

All the floating gear stored since the loss of the Samoan Clipper has been overhauled and set in position and

| heavier moorings necessary in -the case of the larger type of machine have been laid. A launch has been secured and is standing by, and a wide range of spare parts, including a complete engine, has boon obtained and stored in the workshops. Staffing arrangements nt Auckland are not yet complete, although the whole of the key personnel lias arrived from the United States. In addition to Mr. Gatty, who has made bis home in Auckland for some time, representatives of Pan American Airways at present in Auckland include Mr. E. B. Bu.vton. meteorologist, who is making a special study of South Pacific weather, Mr. D. Walker, airport manager. a chief mechanic and a chief radio operator. In addition there are employed two New Zealand radio operators and an airport clerk, while it is planned to engage 10 more New Ze.♦landers as general employees before the service is begun. When the company's intention of resuming the service was announced some time ago, it was thought likely that the first Boeing would be flown to Auckland by Captain W. D. Culbertson, a veteran pilot who flew with Captain Edwin C. Musiek on one of the journeys of the Samoan Clipper. However, Captain Culbertson has since been transferred to the Atlantic division, where he is master of one of the Boeings flying to Europe. Jt is now thought likely that the South Seas Clipper will be commanded by Captain John Tilton, who on Captain Mustek's death succeeded to the position of chief pilot for the Pacific division* "