FLYING COOK STRAIT

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 915, 7 March 1930, Page 16

FLYING COOK STRAIT

SAFETY RULES TO BE DRAFTED From Our Resident Reporter WELLINGTON, Today. j Regulations are being drafted to control flying across Cook Strait, according to a statement made by WingCommander Grand Dalton, Director of Air Services, yesterday. When they are passed it will be necessary for pilots to send a telegram before they j leave Rongotai or Blenheim and, un- ! less they are landing at of these airdromes after crossing the strait, to fly low over them so that their arrival can be noted. There was nothing, said Wing-Com-mander Dalton, to prevent pilots carrying lifebelts and parachutes, but in his opinion, an airman flying at 5,000 ft, reasonable altitude in crossing Cook Strait, would only be four minutes out of reach by gliding, of either shore. The coastline was certainly rugged and good landing places ashore might be scarce, but pilots forced down over the Strait, if they flew high enough, should always be able to land in the water near the shore. More stable wind < onditions would be met just above cloud level than nearer the water. I