Tasman Aircraft Diverted To Melbourne

Chronicle (Levin), 3 May 1948, Page 4

Tasman Aircraft Diverted To Melbourne

Press ASsoeijiiidii) .

(Per

AUCKLANBy ;May 2C Carrying a fulT loh.d of .44 passfinger.?, an Australiap National Airwaya Hkyitiaster,- they Arkana, .. . Loitnd. : from Whenuapai to NI ascot, Sydnev, '.was diverted this - .afternoon to Melhoufne because of advtjrse-fiying conditioas bn the New , South \Vales' eoast, ,, The divorsiou was only the se.eond in the history oi' the westward passenger flights over "i he "Tasnmn, the .first being the use'by a flying-boat more than a- year agu, tlie Rathmines, an- alternative- base fo Hose Bay, Sydnev. : . . • The Arkana,: under charter to Tasman, Empire Airways, arrived ar. Whenuapai at 8.20 this moi'niug after .a seven-hoxif flight from. Mascot and leit at 10.18 a.m. on the return fijght. In tlie meantiiue a eurrent of tropicai air moved by a weak eycione olf the Queensland coast, enyeloped' the NeW Houth Wales coast in eloud and rain, At Sydney this afternoon visibrlity was less tllan one mile and the cloud ceifirig was only about 100ft. It was therefore deeided to divert the Skymaster to Melboitrne where she arrived at 0.27 p.m. Tasman Airways ofiieials at Auckland stated that it was expected the passengers -would be flown baek to Sydnev from Melbourne tomorrow if 'Onditions at Mascot were suitable.