AIDS TO AVIATION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23203, 29 May 1937, Page 14

AIDS TO AVIATION

INSTALLATION OF RADIO SERVICES AN IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT BLIND APPROACH SYSTEM FOR TAIERI (Per United Press Association) WELLINGTON, May 28. Arrangements for the installation of powerful radio telephone and telegraph services as aids to aviation were announced to-night by the Minister of Defence (Mr F. Jones). Quotations, the Minister said, had already been called for suitable directional equipment to equip all the more important aerodromes, and three blind approach systems were under consideration for installation at Rongotai. the Taieri, and Palmerston North. Mr Jones said the Post and Telegraph Department was at present conducting on behalf of Union Airways, Ltd., and Cook Strait Airways, Ltd., the following services, the cost of operation being met by tke particular company concerned:—Milson aerodrome, Palmerston North, lowpower radio telegraph service: Wellington radio, Tinakori Hills, Wellington, medium-power radio telephone and telegraph service; Blenheim aerodrome, low-power radio telegraph service; Post and Telegraph radio station, Christchurch, low-power radio telegraph service; Post and Telegraph radio station, Dunedin, low-power radio telegraph service.

"These services," Mr Jones said, " have been,- in operation since the inauguration of Union Airways service in March, 1936, with the exception of the radio telephone service provided from the Wellington radio. This last-named service is of an adequate power to meet the ultimate requirements and has given particularly satisfactory service since its installation some few months ago. PROGRESS OF WORK " In the last few weeks radio telephone equipment has also been installed at Hokitika and Greymouth and is being operated at these centres on behalf of Cook Strait Airways, Ltd., which controls and operates its own private station at the Stoke Aerodrome, Nelson. This special arrangement at Nelson is a temporary arrangement only until such time as a permanent Government installation can be installed at the new aerodrome at Tahunanui. "While the services at present in existence have proved a most valuable aid to ' the conduct of commercial lines," the Minister said, " they have in the main been recognised as temporary expedients, and the Government has now embarked on a major programme involving the provision of more powerful equipment which will in all cases be located in close proximity to the aerodromes themselves and will be capable of providing a telephone service as well as a telegraph service. TAIERI EQUIPMENT AVAILABLE "At the Taieri Aerodrome, Dunedin, the necessary land has been acquired, and ..the equipment is available for installation as soon as a building, for which the contract has already been let, has been completed. " Matters are also in train for the establishment of permanent stations at the Milson Aerodrome, Palmerston North, the Bell Block Aerodrome, New Plymouth, and the Mangere Aerodrome. Auckland. In view of the desirability of having these stations in operation in time for the opening of the Auckland service, contracts have already been let for the erection of buildings, and it is hoped that the stations will be in operation by the end of June. "Recent weather conditions," Mr Jones said, "have drawn prominent attention to the necessity for the provision of radio aids to navigation and the introduction of blindapproach systems The Government has directed that as much work as possible on the final programmes set out by the Aeradio Committee should be undertaken during the present financial year, and an amount of £35,000 has been set aside to cover the expenditure involved. Quotations have already been called for suitable directional receiving equipment to equip all the more important aerodromes, and three blind-approach systems are under consideration for installation at Rongotai. the Taieri and Palmerston North. CONTROL OF SERVICES

" It is being arranged," the Minister concluded, "that the Post and Telegraph Department, with its experience and resources in radio engineering and the handling of traffic, will undertake the various services involved, including aerodrome to aerodrome communication on short waves, which it is intended to arrange for at several of the more important aerodromes as an item on the current year's programme "