SAFE ARRIVAL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26636, 5 December 1947, Page 6

SAFE ARRIVAL

TASMAN FLYING BOAT UNEVENTFUL CROSSING ENGINE FAULT QUICKLY REPAIRED P.A. ' AUCKLAND, Dec. 4. With her four engines running smoothly, the flying boat New Zealand, of Tasman Empire Airways, Ltd., which had to return to Sydney on Wednesday because of engine trouble, made the trip to Auckland to-day with most of the passengers who had had to go back on the previous day. She was the third of the company’s aircraft to land at Mechanics Bay during the afternoon, the Auckland and the Tasman having arrived earlier, i Faith In Air Travel Unshaken

Although the weather was rough over the Tasman and the flight was bumpy at times, the journey was a normal one, and when the passengers stepped ashore they gave no indication that their experience of the previous day had impaired their faith in air travel. Although they regretted the loss of their belongings, some of which they could never replace, _ they expressed tributes to the captain of the plane, Captain I. C. Patterson, D. 5.0., and members of the crew for the prompt action that had been taken to meet the emergency. . • They were tired and pleased that their long day’s trip was finished, but they were far from dismal while they were waiting in the reception office for their formalities to be completed. The engine which gave trouble on Wednesday was one of those which brought the New Zealand across the Tasman to-day. The mechanical fault was corrected in Sydney in about two hours, and the engine performed perfectly to-

day. It was stated that under normal condition? it would have been no trouble to continue Wednesday’s journey to Auckland, but it had been found advisable to turn back because of bad weather and because the plane was nearer to Sydney than to Auckland when the engine trouble developed. It was also stated that passengers who became ill did not suffer their disability as a result of their unusual experience, but simply as the result of rough weather that had been encountered. When they were told that the plane was going to return to Australia they did not snow any fear, but only disappointment that they could not go on to Auckland as they had planned. They sat with their life jackets on and did not show any sign of panic. They were philosophic when they knew, that their baggage was being jettisoned. The steward, R. C. Ayson, and the stewardess, Miss B. Morton, carried on with their normal duties and did all they could to make the passengers comfortable. They served a meal on the way back to Australia, but some of the passengers were too ill at that stage to eat it. Valuable Cargo Jettisoned The cargo jettisoned from the plane on Wednesday included 33 consignments of freight valued at £IO2O 10s and four consignments of Tasman Empire Airways stores valued at £24 10s. About £6OO worth of drugs and medical supplies was among the goods that went into the sea, and other items were fan belts electrical parts, radio equipment, clothing, thermometers, plants (including 41 orchid plants), seeds, documents and stationery. The full value of the baggage is not yet known, but an official of the company said that the company’s legal liability for the freight and baggage jettisoned was adequately covered by insurance policies held by the company.

Tasman Empire Airways will send one flying boat to Sydney to-morrow morning, but as all the company’s planes are now in Auckland, there will be no arrival from Australia. Two flying boats will go to Sydney on Saturday and one will come to Auckland on Sunday. One will go tg Sydney and two will come to Auckland. The normal tiihe table will be resumed on Monday.