FRENCH-OWNED CATALINA ON VISIT TO DOMINION

Chronicle (Levin), 5 January 1948, Page 7

FRENCH-OWNED CATALINA ON VISIT TO DOMINION

Press Associatidn)

. ' (Per

AUCKLAND, Jan. 4. , The iirst French eommercial aircraft to come to New Zealand, the Society Frkncaise de . Transport 's Ariens Du Pacifique Sud, abbreviated "Trapas", a Catalina «amphibian plane, arrived at Whenuapai from New Caledonia on Saturday piloted by Captain Pierre Delaunay. ,The airCr'aft brought members of the crew of the fortner New Zealand motor vessel Rosalie which has been purchased for trade in the islands by a French firrn, from Noumea to their home. The Catalina, which has been converted from its military function to a 13. passenger aircraft, is one of a fleet of three planes. Another Catalina' and Republican Seabee seaplane are owned by the company which began operations in July of last .year. The Seabee, which has accommodation for only three passengers, maintains an air taxi and charter service about the island of New Caledonia where there are many bays in which it can land. It has acted as an air ambulance on several occasions. Captain Delaunay said the service -was formed to maintain prompt. communication between French possessions in the Pacifie. There were few ships making regular calls at the islands and France had few merchant ships to spare for the South Pacifi trade. The result was that passengfirs fnd mail were taking a considerable period to go from the more remote French possessions to New Caledonia or France. The Trapas service operated a weekly service between the New Hebrides islands and Noumea, added Captain Delaunay. There were a number of French people in the former area whose families were living in New Caledonia and who made monthly visits on service to their relatives. A regular flight was made to Tahiti each month, making. four stops in the 2600 mile journeq. Tlie company also made charter flights for the French Government to "VVallaCe Islands.