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involving six missing persons. These figures do not include R.N.Z.A.F. mercy flights. During these search and rescue operations a total of 280 hours was flown, covering approximately 38,800 air miles. While the Search and Rescue Organization is primarily intended to render assistance to aircraft, in distress (and, in fact, has an international commitment in this respect), the scope of the Organization has been widened domestically to cover the provision of assistance to marine craft in distress and persons lost or in need of assistance in mountain or bush areas when called upon to do so by the responsible Government Department. In this broadening of the Organization the co-operation and assistance of other Government Departments and interested parties has been obtained and Standing Search and Rescue Committees have been formed, including representatives of all the interested Departments. Facilities have been made available to the Organization by the R.N.Z.A.F., the Army, Navy, Police, Marine, and Post and Telegraph Departments, while other Departments will make certain facilities available as and when required. Private bodies such as the Federated Mountain Clubs, New Zealand Association of Radio Transmitters, and private launch-owners also fill an important part in the Organization on a voluntary basis. This reorganization has resulted in increased efficiency in operation and in the use of facilities available. It should be noted that the Search and Rescue Organization, constituted as it is, does not incur any Government expenditure except at such times as an actual operation is in progress. PART Y—OPERATIONS AND AIR NAVIGATION DIVISION This Division, under the control of the Acting Divisional Controller of Operations and Air Navigation, comprises two Sections : (1) The Operations Section, (2) The Air Navigation Section, the activities of which are recorded hereunder. 1. Operations Section During the year a decision was made to man the Operations Section to an establishment which would enable the Section to assume its proper functions and responsibilities. Suitable appointments were made during the latter part of 1949 and early 1950. In addition, authority was given for the setting-up of a radio calibration flight with an establishment of two Dakota aircraft and three crews. The functions of the Operations Section may be classified under three principal headings: — (a) Operations inspection. (b) Technical and research. (c) Radio calibration. (a) Operations Inspection The main duties of this Section—the inspection and investigation of flight operations connected with scheduled and non-scheduled air transport and aerial work operations — were restricted due to the lack of personnel during the major portion of the year. However, with the recent appointment of two Operations Inspectors it will be possible to pay greater attention to these activities during the coming year. Only two flight inspections were carried out during the year, and these were in connection with the inauguration of regular night schedules by the New Zealand National Airways Corporation and Tasman Empire Airways, Ltd. A full programme of aerodromes inspection was carried out, main aerodromes being inspected at two-monthly intervals, secondary aerodromes at three-monthly intervals, and other aerodromes at six-monthly intervals. A total of 200 flying hours was

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