NEW AERADIO STATION.

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20264, 5 August 1937, Page 10

NEW AERADIO STATION.

GREAT HELP TO SHIPPING. DIRECTION-FINDING FACILITIES. The aeradio service of the Nexv Zealand Post Ofllce, the latest extension of its work for the benefit of aviation in the Dominion, will also provide facilities wtych under certain conditions would be of great value in connection with marine mishaps in New Zealand waters. These radio stations at the principal aerodromes are being equipped with direction-finding apparatus primarily for tile purpose of the commercial air services of the DoDominion. They will transmit on 900 metres—the aeronautical calling wave for communication—so that ships equipped with direction-finding apparatus as well as the aviators, may use these signals as a help in fixing their position when approaching the Nexv Zealand coast. Of great importance, as far as ships are concerned, will be tiic ability of operators of aeradio stations to take bearings of a ship in distress and approximately to locate its position, though this may, on account of bad weather and oilier unknown factors, differ considerably from the position sent in the distress message. Such a service would be invaluable when the ship in distress and the rescuing ships are not fitted with facilities for" direction finding. In connection with the recent loss of the plane piloted by Miss Amelia Earhart, the United States naval authorities called attention to the point that if the plane had sent out its dislress signals on the 600 metre band, on which wave the searchsteamer Itasca had direction-finding facilities, it. would have been possible to have taken a bearing and thus improve the chances of success for the searchers.