EMPIRE AIR LINK

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24491, 27 December 1940, Page 4

EMPIRE AIR LINK

MAINTENANCE OF CRAFT SYDNEY WORKSHOPS IMPORTANCE OF SERVICE The provision in Sydney of engine overhaul workshops for the Empire fly-ing-boats (writes the aviation correspondent of the Sydney Morning Herald) is proving invaluable in the maintenance of the British oversea air mail. When Italy entered the war. all Mediterranean flying-boat bases were closed to the Empire service. German air patrols from France and the bombing of the English coast meant that a passenger, mail, and freight service from Australia to Southampton, and later to Hythe, could not be safely and regularly operated. Change of Route A survey of alternative routes, governed by the range of the existing Empire flying-boats and the land-planes operated by British Overseas Airways, Ltd., showed that the best alternative route to Britain was via Egypt, and then southwards through Africa to the Cape. The„ passengers, mails, and freight are now carried to England by ship from Durban. There was a second alternative route from Australia to Britain across the Indian Ocean, with strategic connections from Cocos Island to Singapore, from Diego Garcia to Colombo and India, from the Seychelles to Mombasa, and then by way of rivers and lakes to the west coast of Africa. . This route was surveyed last vear by Captain P G. Taylor. Unfortunately the British airways had no flying-boats with sufficient range to fly the Indian Ocean route.' The ordering of the P.B.Y. 5 flyingboats by the Commonwealth Government, however, changes the entire perspective, and pilots who have been used to machines with a standard range of some 1000 miles will now have at their disposal aircraft with a still air range of 4000 miles or 2000 miles with a heavy load. Durban Terminal The change of route through Africa for the Empire service led to British Overseas Airways, Ltd.. moving its headquarters to Durban. A large technical and administration staff with equipment, was transported to Durban. It was this change of western terminal which called for the early full use of the resources of the newlv established Qantas engine overhaul workshops at the eastern end. That they were available was a tribute to the foresight of Mr W Hudson Fysh, managing director of Qantas Empire Airways Ltd., and of the works manager of the company. Mr A. Baird. To-day, the Qantas engine overhaul section not only plays a large part in keeping the Empire flying-boats in the air over the whole of the DurbanSydney route, but it is also of service to the Air Force in maintaining Royal Australian Navy ship-borne aircraft. About £50,000 is invested in the Qantas engine overhaul workshops The workshops strip down engines, clean the parts, and go through all stages of repair and replacement. The engines are removed from their bearers at Rose Bay, conveyed to Mascot, and, after overhaul, taken back to the base for re-installation in the wings of the flying-boats.