COMMERCIAL AVIATION

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 174, 17 April 1919, Page 9

COMMERCIAL AVIATION

FUTURE POSSIBILITIES

COLONEL BETTINGTON'S VIEWS

The commercial possibilities of the aeroplane were touched upon by Lieu-tenant-Colonel Vero Bottington, C.M.G., K.A.1 , .;, shortly after 'his/arrival by the express froni Kotorua'; (stive the "New Zealand Herald"). , Colonel Bettington recently arrived in New Zealand from England, having been'engaged ■to advise the Dominion Government on ■ matters connected with aviation, He was selected l)y the War Ofrico lit the request of the New "Zealand Defence Department; Jinving had -α-ivido experience in aviation.Major A. de B: D.5.0./: A 1.0., E.A.F., formerly of Wellington; who is associated '-with- Colonel- Bettington in his mission, accompanies the latter on hie .visit to .- • '• . ■■.

Colonel Bettington said tho primary purp&se of his visit was to advise on tho defencte aspects of the' aeroplane—naval and military—arid he was not propared-to talk on these subjects,' but. ho expressed his great iaith 'in the-civil and commercial purposes Xo which the aeroplane would be put in-the not very distant future...The'brains which , developed the marvellous machines that gained so much superiority- over the Germans would liow'be available'for use in'the development of the .'machine"'"for." everyday ...use, and-he?was'.'clearly of- the opinion that very shortly, the aeroplane .would be dwned and used much as the. motor-car is to-day. In a young: and rich country like New Zealand the possibilities for such -advancement were, alinost ■ boundless,, Hβ. made -light of the difficulties of learning to fly*'. saying, '.that: flying was as "easy to learn as motor-car driving, the obstacles which the fighting aviator .'had--to. overcome being flying at night,- artillery observation, gunnery, etc. '.Of these, night flying would perhaps be the; only difficulty' which the peaceful aviator would have to face, and in this he would undoubtedly be assisted, by the more-general application of. wireless as a means of directing planes 'to aerodromes and. fllling-up stations.'.

■ The Initial Outlay. '■]]'■' Referring to the: outlay, required to. establish'-.ny'ing on -a commercial' basis in New Zealand, Colonel Bettington said that first of all it .would'be necessary to ■provide a'series of .'aerodromes through-' out the Country, and a number of.rehll■ing points, as well as a wide, extension of the present wireless facilities" for the assistance , of aerial navigation; at night. The initial cost would no doubt -bo high, but maintenance.would not»be/as high as that experienced in ■ railway operation, as , it' was not necessary-tu -''main-r tain the air." In' connection with the aerodromes-and'refilling points, landing spaces Qf about-COO square-yards tent were required for the fast, highpowered .niach|ne«. : : ■'•■ . .., ./ ,'.; "This extension of the U6ei of' the "aeroplan must be viewed from the widest possible angle,". ,said -,-.Colonel',Bettington, '-"as .it, must opeii up' the..oountry and bring .the backblocks'.ssttler into, closer touch with civilisation. Take'.the case of the farmer ( many miles from' the nearest' doctor. .Faced by the urgenfneed for a.doctor,..h> could telephone to'.the medical man, who could cover, in a fow minutes, distances which, through bad loads and rugged, country,; now 'take hours to traverse. The U6e';of tho aeroplane for postal deliveries is' a matter upon which I have to report:to the 'Government,- but I, -jan'say "that'the; question. of 1 dropping and picking up pack-' ages without 'alighting-'does' not present the diffipu.ltie3_.usuairy associated with it.' . Colonel Bettington expressed the opiniqn that the' machines .whieli would evolved 'for commercial purposes ■'sould be of a sSoyer type, and consequently cheaper and safer'- to operate, as. the. high alt&ude and speed so "vitalto war operations wouid not have to' be considered. . ;.'.'.. ■■•'.:■' ■ > .