LAND-PLANE LINK

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27318, 18 February 1950, Page 6

LAND-PLANE LINK

SOUTH ISLAND AND AUSTRALIA PROPOSAL FAVOURED Special Correspondent WELLINGTON, Feb. 17. Sir Miles Thomas, chairman of the British Overseas Airways Cor poration, said in Wellington today that he was in favour of the idea of a direct land-plane link between Australia and the South Island of New Zealand.' Sir Miles told the Daily Times representative that he considered a direct Melbourne-Christchurch link could well be established and operated by either Tasman Empire Airways or British Commonwealth Pacific Airlines. Asked if he considered the trans-Tasman air traffic would be sufficient to allow economic competition by a privately-owned land-plane service to the South Island and the existing TEA flying-boat service to the north, Sir Miles said: “ That is for the private operators to determine. These new big land planes are very expensive, and unless a large fleet is operated over a wide area it may be difficult to succeed.” He considered the geographical situation of New Zealand made it a tailor- ■ made route for flying-boat operations, particularly for the Solent flying boat used on the trans-Tasman service. The Solent, he believed, gave excellent service. A large section of the flying public was showing a preference for flying boats over ’ land planes for lengthy journeys over water, said Sir Miles. He said there appeared to be a swing back to preference for flying boats. American operators were considering new developments in this type of craft. The advent of the jet and turbo jet engine could give a new use to the flying boat. Sir Miles said. He believed it important to New Zealand that a strong and fully operative fleet of flying boats be maintained because they were of great strategic value as well as convenience. The maintenance of a fleet of this type meant that the prospect of isolation in the event of world hostilities would be reduced.