NEW AIR SERVICE

Opotiki News, Volume II, Issue 147, 17 February 1939, Page 2

NEW AIR SERVICE

GISBORNE-AU C.KL AN 1> UNION AIRWAYS’ PLANS STARTING EARLY MARCH SCHEDULE NOT COMPLETED A message from Wellington states: Indications that the new commercial air link between Gisborne and Auckland will be inaugurated next month are given by the activity at Union Airways’ headquarters, where discussions of many factors likely to. affect the operation. of the new link have, taken place from time to time, and where details of the flying schedule are being prepared. The visit of the Minister in Charge of Civil Aviation, the Hon. F. Jones, to Tauranga for last month's pageant, when the new aerodrome was formally opened, provided an occasion for a survey of part of the GisborneAuckland route, and tor testing the ground conditions both at Tauranga and Opotiki. On that occasion several officers of the civil aviation division accompanied the Minister, and in the meantime Union Airways’ officials have been dealing with departmental expertson such matters as ground staffing, aerodrome equipment, and emergency landing areas.

The big D.H. 86 airliners will be used on this link, and the initial schedule, it is believed, will provides for a two-way journey daily between the two termini on week-days, and a one-way journey on Sundays. The time allowed for the full journey, including stops at Opotiki, will be 2A hours. Under normal conditions, this, will leave a substantial margin for contingencies such as headwinds and cloud conditions, which necessitate Hying at high altitudes.