AIR NAVIGATION

Wairarapa Times-Age, 16 November 1938, Page 6

AIR NAVIGATION

INSTALLATION OF RADIO BEACONS NEW ZEALAND. PROGRAMME. OUTLINED BY MINISTER. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. Arrangements made by the Government for the installation of modern radio aids to air navigation in an endeavour to make aviation in this country safe and reliable were outlined by the Minister in Charge of Civil Aviation, Mr Jones, in an interview yesterday. He said the programme authorised should bring the air routes of the Dominion up to a standard of safety and reliability unsurpassed anywhere in the world. The Government had approved the installation of special short wave radio channels for all interdrome ) traffic to ensure an uninterrupted service to aircraft in flight. Approach beacons were also to be installed, and the first of these would be at the Tairei aerodrome near Dunedin. The second < would most likely be installed at Milsom aerodrome near Palmerston '*' North. Mr Jones said the public should know that the Government appreciated its responsibilities in the provision of safety aids to air navigation. It had authorised a complete programme of radio aids for aviation which should bring New Zealand air routes up to a standard of efficiency, safety and reliability unsurpassed anywhere in the world. The present methods fully met the requirements of the services as ;hey were being conducted, and no risks were being taken by attempting to operate air liners when conditions in any way made safe running doubtful. The extent to which action had already been taken was referred to by the Minister. He said that permanent radio stations had been installed at all aerodromes which were included in the services being provided by the New Zealand Airways. The capital expenditure on radio equipment alone during the year 1937-38 was approximately £10,500, and the operating.expenditure amounted to some £5OOO. > The existing services were, however, a small part of the final programme, and the Government had already approved some £45,000 for the installation of additional equipment during the present financial year. This equipment would demand an increase in the operating staff, and it was expected that maintenance and operating charges for the current year would amount to £lO,OOO.