MERCHANDISE BY AIR

Waipa Post, Volume 42, Issue 3276, 24 March 1931, Page 2

MERCHANDISE BY AIR

CURIOUS FREIGHT

One of the romances of modern aviation is the growth which is now taking place in the aerial transport of urgent merchandise.

Often, at the present time, and in a single day, more than 20 tons nf freight are passing either inward or outward through London's aerial terminus at Croydon.

During a recent period of nine months nearly 700 tons of urgent mails and merchandise were air-borne to and fro along the European and Indian lines of Imperial Airways. That such loads are greatly increasing may be gathered from the fact that, during 1928, the total figure was not more than about 500 tons.

Remarkable, too, is the variety of air-borne merchandise. Often a stranded motorist on the Continent will cable for some spare part for his car. Across this goes to him at once in the next air express. Fragile articles in growing numbers are sent by aeroplane, not only on account of the speed, but also for the reason that air-borne goods receive such care in handling and transport, owing to the absence of pilfering and the greatlyreduced risks of breakage.

Nearly 2,000,000 wireless valves have now been air-borne in the machines of Imperial Airways between London and the Continent. So, also, have approximately £BO,OOO worth of loud speakers. When valuable pidtures have to be sent to and fro between London and the Continent it has now become the rule to consign them via the airway. It is increasingly the habit, also, on account of the special handling it receives, to send delicate electrical aparatus by

Perishable goods find their way constantly into aerial cargoes, the saving of time in aeroplane transport representing not merely hours but days. Not long ago, owing to the fact that brussels sprouts are not normally available in Egypt in winter, some of the big hotels in Alexandria and Cairo conceived the idea of having a consignment sent specially by the Indian mail plane to give an extra attraction to the Christmas fare. So, also, on another occasion, were a ber of lobsters.

The existence of the Imperial Airways route enables vital time-saving to be effected in sending samples of the Egyptian cotton crop to London. Nearaly all the bullion dispatched from London to the Continent is now air-borne —a convincing tribute not only to the speed, but also to the security of aerial transport. Often, too, as a contrast to this, a consignment of day-old chickens will be placed on an early-morning plane and in not more than a day's flying will reach some destination far distant across the Continent.

Strange loads are sometimes airborne. Not long ago an Imperial Airways cargo machine had its interior transformed, temporarily, into a lion's den. In this improvised cage a fullygrown, lion, accompanied by its trainer, flew from Paris to London to take part in a circus. On another occasion a big Handley Page-Napier cargo plane had its hull fitted as a horse box, in order to transport a valuable horse on an urgent aerial journey from abroad. Occasionally a tank of those strange creatures, " sea horses," will come from the south of France, consigned to the London Zoo. Merchandise despatched by air from Croydon at midday is delivered in Paris the* same evening. It' is also possible in a single day to effect the aerial transport and delivery of packages to such important places as Cologne, Brussels, and Berlin. On the Imperial Airways England) i lndia route

a consignment of goods will reach Egypt from London in four days, and will be in India in not more than seven days, while along the new African route, when it is in full operation, air loads will reach Capetown in 11 days, as compared with 17 days by surface transport. One of the aims in building up the air freight of Imperial Airways has been to quicken every aspect of the ground organisation. Exporters familiar with transport through large docks are prone to think of customs clearance as a business of anything from 24 to 48 hours, except in cases where special rates are paid. In aerial transport the average aerodrome customs time is not more than from two to five hours.

All possible steps are taken to simpllify air goods transport. There is no need for anyone to fill up a series of large multi-form consignment notes. Imperial Airways have shortened this process until all that is necessary is to complete a simple form to which are attached invoices. When this has been completed, assuming the goods are being consigned from London, all that is necessary is to ring up Imperial Airways so that the consignment may be collected for its aerial journey. Consignments from the provinces come by rail to London, and are collected by the airway vans from the railway termini and taken direct to Croydon for air despatch on the next departing plane.