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long hours under difficult conditions. It is considered, however, that the stage has been reached where any appreciable further increase in the quantity of work without additional staff, will impair the quality of work. Forecasting : Overseas Air Routes. —Practically all the forecasting for trans-ocean air routes is carried out at Mechanics Bay and Nadi. Mechanics Bay is responsible for the forecasts for all aircraft departing from New Zealand, while Nadi is responsible for the Pacific trunk-route services running north and south from Fiji, and also for the regional air services operating through Fiji to Samoa and the Cook Islands, and to New Caledonia and other areas in the South Pacific. During the year there has been an increase in the number of forecasts for scheduled air services, chiefly due to the commencement of operations by British Commonwealth Pacific Airlines, and an increase ■in the schedules of Pan-American World Airways. There has been some decrease in the amount for non-scheduled services, both civil and military. The approximate number of separate route forecasts for overseas flights issued by the two offices was — Nadi.. .. .. .. .. 1,600 Mechanics Bay .. .. .. 800 Paucity of upper air information throughout the South Pacific is still causing concern and makes more difficult the preparation of accurate forecasts. A comprehensive network of stations throughout the area for providing this information has been approved, but all the countries concerned are experiencing difficulty in implementing the scheme. As far as can be determined, further delays will be inevitable and it will probably be some years before the full network of upper air stations is in operation. Aviation Forecasting : Internal. —The bulk of the aviation forecasting within New Zealand has been for the scheduled services of New Zealand National Airways Corporation, but a very considerable number of forecasts has been provided also for the 8.N.Z.A.F., aero clubs", &c. Individual flight or route forecasts and terminal forecasts are supplied on request to every aircraft on cross-country flights. In addition, a considerable number of local forecasts is issued for R.N.Z.A.F. and aero-club training flights of short duration. Although precise figures are not available, the following are the approximate numbers of written flight or route forecasts issued during the year for internal flying:— Mechanics Bay .. .. ..10,000 Paraparaumu., .. .. .. 11,500 Wigram .. .. .. ..4,200 Taieri .. .. .. .. 1,600 The Paraparaumu figures include about 1,500 forecasts prepared by the General Forecasting Office, Kelburn, outside the normal hours of the Paraparaumu Office. Although these branches are classified as aviation forecasting offices, those at Mechanics Bay, Wigram, and Taieri, because of their proximity to the main cities, carry out a considerable amount of general forecasting to satisfy local requirements. The Nadi office also caters for the civil requirements in Fiji, and is responsible for the hurricane-warning organization in the South Pacific. R.N.Z.A.F.- The Meteorological Branch is responsible for providing all the meteorological requirements of the R.N.Z.A.F., these comprising mainly forecasting and training. It has not been possible to fill the established forecaster positions at Lauthala Bay, Whenuapai, and Ohakea, and at those stations reliance has had to be placed on forecasts supplied from the nearest forecasting office. Only at Wigram have the full requirements of the R.N.Z.A.F. been met. With the increased intake into courses at Wigram there has been a considerable increase in the lecturing to pupil pilots and navigators, and also in forecasting for night flying.

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