AIR TRIPS ACROSS TASMAN

Southland Times, Issue 24438, 19 May 1941, Page 11

AIR TRIPS ACROSS TASMAN

RECORD OF SUCCESS

Figures for the year ended March 31 show that New Zealand and Australia have good cause to be proud of the record achieved by Tasman Empne Airways. Of 134 trips scheduled 130 were completed—97.ol per cent, of the possible—an exceptionally high proportion for ocean crossings. Generally 90 per cent, would be considered excellent for such passages in a Period of 12 months, says a statement issued by Tasman Empire Airways Ltd. All the trips were made by the Aotearoa and Awarua, which carried a total of 1461 passengers (an average of over 11 a trip). The hours flown amounted to 1180.48, an average of 9.08 hours a trip. The quickest flight was 6 hours 57 minutes on March 23. The aggregate of miles flown was 174,200, computed on the air-line distance of 1340 miles between Auckland and Sydney. The mile in this calculation is the standard statute mile (1760 yards). The baggage allowance for passengers is 441 b each. Some took more and others less. The total of ordinary baggage was 33,8171 b and excess baggage was 6139. Mails totalled 77,5711 b (an average of nearly 5971 b a trip). The mail ton miles were given as 46,402 —equivalent to the carrying of one ton 46,402 miles. Freight accounted for 14,4481 b (an average of a little over 1111 b a trip). The freight ton miles were 8644.