7

H.—l9

For the financial year ending 31st March, 1923, subsidies, based on relative efficiency of aerodromes, machines, workshops, and staff maintained, were paid to companies as under : — £ s. d. N.Z. Flying School .. .. .. .. .. .. 1,626 0 0 Canterbury Aviation Company .. .. .. .. .. 669 12 8 N.Z. Aero Transport Company .. .. .. .. .. 679 18 7 £2,975 11 3 In addition the following payments were made for refresher courses : — £ s. d. N.Z. Flying School—ton seaplane pilots at £90 .. .. .. 900 0 0 Canterbury Aviation Company and N.Z. Aero Transport Company— Twenty-four landplane pilots at £75 .. .. .. 1,800 0 0 £2,700 0 0 Licenses and Certificates. Licenses and certificates at present in force are as under: Commercial pilots, 1 ; ground engineers, 5 ; registration of aircraft, 5 ; aerodrome licenses, 2. Activities op Civil Aviation Companies. The N.Z. Flying School (Walsh Bros, and Dexter (Limited) ), Auckland, has been the most active company during the period under review, but its flying returns show a falling-off from those of the previous year. Its machines have visited many centres, including the following : Dargaville, Thames, Paeroa, Tauranga, Hamilton, Rotorua, Wellington, and Nelson, where flights were carried out. This is now the only company operating. The Canterbury Aviation Company has conducted very few tours, and, with the exception of one machine which visited the Bay of Plenty and Hawke's Bay and Wairarapa, has confined its operations chiefly to Canterbury. During the period Juno to November inclusive no flying was carried out. The company's property and equipment was taken over by the Department on the 21st June. The N.Z. Aero Transport Company carried out a small amount of flying during April and May only, and finally went into liquidation on the 27th March, 1923. During February and March the companies carried out refresher courses for ex Royal Air Force pilots under arrangements with the Defence Department. The Canterbury Aviation Company and the N.Z. Aero Transport Company arranged to combine their respective classes, and. conducted all the training with one staff at Sockburn. There have been no accidents or mishaps involving injury to pilots, passengers, or third parties.

Table showing Civil Flying for Year ended 31st March, 1923.

Table showing Civil Flying for Quarter ended 30th June, 1923.

Company. Passengers earried. Total Duration of Flights. Approximate Machine Mileage. Number of Flights. Avorage Mileage per Flight. N.Z. Flying School Canterbury Aviation Company N".Z. Aero Transport Company 1,687 415 87 Hrs. Min. 133 2 53 38 13 37 10,116 3,835 1,032 893 220 52 11-3 174 19-8 Totals 2,1.89 200 17 14,983 1,165 12-8 NOTE. —Pilots undergoing refroshei 12 minutes flying, and those at Canterl ire not included in above. training mry Aviatii at N.Z. PI on Company 'ing School did 144 ho carried out 63 hours irs flying. These times

Company. Passengers carried. Total Duration of Flights. Approximate Machine Mileage. Number of Flights. Average Mileage per Flight. r.Z, Flying-school .. 109 Hrs. mm. 7 43 573 57 10-0