RADIO-RANGES TO GUIDE AIRCRAFT

Chronicle (Levin), 12 June 1947, Page 6

RADIO-RANGES TO GUIDE AIRCRAFT

-Press Association

By TelegrapTt-

WELLINGTON, Jnne 11. - The installation. .ofi radio-ranges to provide radio beama- or lanes for aiferaft engaged, in the Auckland-Dunedin trunk air service,"' is now proceeding, according tb an annoiincement by the Minister in charge of civil aviation, Mr. Jones. = Stations are under eonstr'uction in the Wellington and- Christchurch districts while work is expeeted to . commence- upoh the- installation of ' a third rarige near New Plymouth within about a month. It is ahticipated that all three stations will be in operation within three months. Oue already ekxsts- near Whenuapai and this range, in conjunction with' the thTee'projeeted, will provide an accurate " airway " upon which aircraft may fly during adverse weather extending from beyond North Cape to Dunedin. Cer'tain other routes will also be served by ranges' each of which sends out four separate beams. Auxiliary equip-' ment ealled "fan markers, ' ' will be sited at selected spots along the beams and it- will be possible theref ore for the c'aptaih of an aircraft not only to know that he is flying along a strictly defined route but also to identify his position as he passes over the marker. beacons. Not only will the radio-ranges provide valuable aid to route flying but they will also permit aeeurate cheeking of the relative positions of aircraft within the 1 ' bpttieneck ' ' (so far as airlines ,are concerned) between Cape Campbell, .Stephens Island, Paraparaumu and Eongotai. • It was interesting to note, said the Minister, that the number of aircraft movements in this area already f requently exceeded 100 per day. In a very short time the amount of air trafiic concentrated- there during peak hours will have risen to a level which may introduce a serious dhnger of collision unless the movement of all aircraft were accurately " known and strictly controlled. In addition to radio-ranges, continued Mr. Jo'nes, high power nondirectional radio beacons were aiso being installed at the main airfields and strategic points en route and together with the radio-ranges, they should pro.vide conditions under which an aircraft was assured of radio assistanee which would render flight as saf e in adverse weather as when perfect visibility was encountered. ,