AIR REGULATIONS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20969, 7 March 1930, Page 11

AIR REGULATIONS.

FLIGHTS OVER COOK STRAIT. MEASURES TO ENSURE SAFETY. (Special to Daily Times.) . WELLINGTON. March 6. Regulations are being drafted to govern flights over Cook Strait,” eaid Wing-commander Grant-Dalton (director of air services) to-day. “There have been instances of airmen leaving and arriving across the strait without notification of any kind, and in the event of their being forced down nobody would have known that they had even started, andconsequently a search for them would be very much delayed.” While it was unlikely, he proceeded, that anyone flying at a reasonable height would be forced down in the middle of the strait, ■ as it was only some 16 miles across, and gliding would carry the plane a considerable distance, pilots should/invariably send a telegram that they had left either Rongotai or Blenheim, -and unless they were landing at either of these aerodromes after crossing, they should fly over them in order that their safe arrival could be noted. It was as essential that their arrival should be known as it was that their departure should be telegraphed. There was nothing, said Wing-com-mander Grant-Dalton, to prevent pilots carrying lifebelts and parachutes, but in his opinion an airman flying at 5000 ft, a reasonable altitude in crossing the strait, would only be four minutes out of reach by gliding to either shore. ; The coastline was certainly rugged, and good landing places ashore might oe scarce, but pilots forced down over the strait, if they new high enough, should always be able to land in the water near the shore. More stable wind conditions would be met just above cloud level than nearer the water.