LIGHTING SEAPLANE HARBOUR

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 12, 15 January 1936, Page 3

LIGHTING SEAPLANE HARBOUR

NEW SCHEME DEVISED PREPARING SINGAPORE FOB EMPIRE SERVICE SINGAPORE, December &. A scheme for the illumination of the seaplane channel at the new civil aerodrome at, {Singapore is being devised to allow giant flying-boats that will run between England and Australia to land at night. Thit- will help to speed up the Empire air mail. No country in the world has so far found a satisfactory scheme for night illumination of water surface for teaplanes. At present a glare is thrown into the pilots’ eyes, the reflection from flares and being too strong. Imperial Airways flying-boats Oc-ca-ionally have to land on the Nile after nightfall, with floating flares and the lights of the villages on shore to guide the pilot. Efforts are made, however, to avoid night, landings because of the lighting difficulty. The Singapore seaplane channel will be lit. from the side, and the water surface will be clearly defined without any glare. The new Singapore aerodrome, which I will be much more modern than Croydon, will also be the headquarter.; for the new Straits Settlement Volunteer Air Force. Hangars, workshops and messes will be built soon. The aero Iromee will be ready next year. At, present Imperial Airwave,* K.L.M. (Royal Dutch) and K.N.T.L.M. (Royal Dutch Indie* Airways) liners have to land at the air force bare at Seletar, although it is contrary to practice to allow civil aeroplanes on a service aerodrome.