AIR TRANSPORT

Hokitika Guardian, 28 September 1931, Page 3

AIR TRANSPORT

ITS AID TO COMMERCE,

TIME-SAVING THAT MEANS MONEY-SAVING. SPEED AND SECURITY. i LONDON, August 13. i Only those constantly in touch with t air transport or those in industries ? which, on such a growing scale, are 1 using the airway regularly for the des- • patch of urgent loads, can appreciate the extent to which the aeroplane is 1 now aiding modern commerce. Among the many instances adduced ' by Imperial Airways, Ltd., of the com--1 mercial utility of the airway; none 1 could he more conclusive than one which has transpired. A " party of motorists in Africa, not far from the Juba station of the Imperial Airways African route, had a breakdown which prevented them from continuing their journey until they could obtain a spare part from England. They cabled to the British manufacturers, who, in less than 15 hours, managed to rush the ! part required up to London and on to ’ the out-going African air mail from Croydon. The result was one that amazed the | marooned travellers, and gave them an illustration of What modem high-speed transport can accomplish. For, though they were 5000 miles from London, and 1 in a remote locality where, had it not been for the air mail, they must have waited weary weeks for what they wanted, actually in not more than seven days from the despatch of their cable to England the essential part they needed was handed to them at the Juba air station by an official of Imperial Airways. In a letter one of the members of this party writes: r ‘lt revolutionises one’s ideas of time and distance to be able to procure a vital spare part thousands of miles from England, and to receive this in the heart of Africa, only a week after the telegraphed request was made.” Motor car manufacturers are using the air services, whenever the time factor is important, on a rapidly increasing sale. Often, a motorist on the Continent will cable to London for some spare part and across this goes to him immediately in the next air express frequently effecting a saving not merely of hours but of days. GOODS BY AIR. Articles sent by air from Croydon at mid-day are delivered in Paris the same afternoon while parcels collected in London at the close of business hours are flown across the Channel and delivered as soon as business houses open in the morning. Goods despatched from the provinces during the morning by the recently-established air rail service arrive in London during the afternoon are collected at the railway termini by the airway vans taken to Croydon, flown to Paris on. the evening service, and are delivered the first thing the following morning. It is also possible, in a single day, to effect the aerial transport and delivery of packages from London to destinations such .ais Brussels, Cologne, and Berlin. Business men who have urgent appointments can fly in the morning from London to Paris, have time there for matters in hand, and fly back to London in time for dinner; while the same can also be done in connection with cities such as Brussels, Antwerp, or Amsterdam. As for destinations farther afield, it is" now possible to enter one of the air expresses at the London air station in the morning, < and, in a day, fly to cities as distant as 'Berlin, Zurich, Prague, and Malmo (Sweden). On the England-India route of Imperial Airways goods now reach Egypt from London, by the accelerated I service, in not more than three days, and are in Ijndia in five days; while 1 urgent loads are air-borne from London * to the heart of Central Africa in just 1 over six days. 1

Remarkable is the variety of the merchandise coin signed by air. A vital piece of machinery may need replacement in a powerful mining plant located somewhere far distant along the Indian or African air; lines, anduntil that part can be obtained ' and placed in position the section of machinery involved may have to stand idle, and not only the machinery itself bnt perhaps a number of men as well. Such a case is one in which time is money. The additional cost involved by air express transport is very well worth while if it means so many fewer days’ idleness for some vital portion of a big plant.' j

Again and again, in such circum-j stances, air transport proves a boon] Essential parts' are ordered by cable, and sent out by airway, with such rapidity that prolonged idleness for essential pieces of machinery is obviated, the time savings involved being in many cases a matter of weeks rather than of days. CARD TAKEN OF AIR BORNE GOODS. It is a mistake to imagine 'that only small, light articles can be carried by air. Loads weighing appreciable amounts are regularly air borne nowadays in the la rge and powerful craft employed. Important industries are making n growing (use of’ ai!r transit for the despatch of Coffee planters in Kenya Colony are now able, thanks to thi“ African airway, to get samples of their crops through to London in a matter of days rather than of weeks, while Egyptian cotton crop samples are also consigned to London by air mail.

Fragile articles of all kinds are despatched by aeroplane not only on account.' of the speed, hut also because air-borne goods receive special care in handling and transport. An important point, too,, is that:'insurance is cheaper by air than by surface travel, owing to the absence of pilferage, and the greatly-reduced risk of breakage. Wireless valves in very large numbers are consigned by: air in the machines of Imperial Airways between London and the Continent; so, also, are. such articles as wireless loudspeakers. It is increasingly the habit, on account of the special handling it receives, to send delicate electrical apparatus by air.

Perishable goods of all kinds are included constantly in aerial cargoes, man goes, and other tropical fruits now arriving in fresh condition in London; rapidly air-borne along the Empire air mail routes. High-speed air travel is also proving not only the most rapid, but also the most, humane way of sending <logs, poultry, and other live stock, from this country to destinations abroad!

I Nearly all the bullion'" despatched (from London to the Continent is airj bovpe, because this is a conclusive ! tribute not only to the speed, hut also 1 to the security of modern transport, by