AID FOR PILOTS

Hokitika Guardian, 15 September 1933, Page 7

AID FOR PILOTS

SHORT WAVE WIRELESS SETS. INSTALLATION IN N.Z. DROMES. NEW PLYAIOUTH, Sept. 13. Short wave wireless is to be installed at several aerodromes throughout New Zealand, according to advice received this morning by Mr S. E. Neilson, secretary of the New Zealand Aero Club. The club had set up a technical subcommittee, and after it had reported an application was made for wave-length. Jll his reply, the Secretary of the Post and Telegraph Department, Air G. McNamara, allots 2720 kilocycles, approximately 110 metres. He further states that permission is granted as a temporary expedient.

It is understood, however, that the Government reserves the right to withdraw permission if the system conflicts with the general telegraph and toll communication of the Dominion. The first installations will be Auckland, New Plymouth, Hawera, AVangar nui. Hastings, Alasterton, Wellington, Blenheim, Christchurch, Dunedin and Invercargill. Air Neilson states that the main purpose of the installations is for urgent weather reports for emergency flights and tracing the progress of pilots who may not have arrived at their destination in reasonable time, also to assist the general training of pupil pilots. The first series of radio tests between an aeroplane and a ground station was held at Alangere aerodrome last montn. Two complete portable receiving and transmitting sets, weighing about lßlbs each, were supplied by members of the Radio Emergency Corps, and both telephony and interrupted continuous wave messages could he despatched and received. Two types of signals were sent out from the aeroplane, and were clearly heard on the ground, hut communication in the reverse direction was* rendered unintelligible.by interruptions from the engine of the aeroplane. It remains a matter for further experiments to eliminate interferences to reception in the air, caused mainly by the ignition system, before the scheme of two-way communication between aeroplanes and ground stations can be established on a practicable basis.