this^AofcaS p^engers

Transpacific

Aeroplanes

Pan American Southward Line Is Still In Indefinite Stage

possibilities of a branch line of A the American trans-Pacific air ser vice, from Hawaii to New Zealand, are not mentioned in the latest and eighth annual report to the stockholders of Pan American Airways, operators of the trans pacific route (says the Honolulu corres pondent of the N.Z. Herald).

However, official Government interest in the possibilities is being maintained.

A thorough record of the upper air con ditions is being made by the United States Navy at Pago Pago, American Samoa. Pan American aeroplanes, using high speed, high altitude engines, usually cruise at about 8000 ft.

Upper air records are being made, too, from stations at Jarvis, Howland and Baker Islands, midway between Hawaii and Samoa. These islands were occupied and claimed for America last year, and for 12 months until March, 1936, four American youths on each island collected ground weather data and went through the daily formality of hoisting the Stars and Stripes.

This occupation and work was done for the Department of Commerce air bureau.

In May, 1936, President Roosevelt, by executive order, assigned the administra tion of the islands to the Department of the Interior, which is responsible for American territories and possessions.

Philippine Islands Service

Early in July a fresh expedition of American youths was hurriedly assembled in Honolulu and despatched to Jarvis, Howland and Baker Islands in the coast guard cutters Itasca and Tiger. Four youths were left at each island to repeat the collection of weather data and the hoisting of the American flag.

Later in the month another expedition left for the islands, this time headed by Mr. William T. Miller, superintendent of airways for the Department of Com merce, and Mr. Richard B. King, field re presentative of the Department of the Interior.

Pan American’s service from San Francisco to the Philippine Islands is booming - . Starting in July the previous fortnightly service was increased to three return flights a month. Soon this will be speeded up to four flights.

At present only mails and express are being carried by the giant clipper ’planes, but it is learned that the company will start the trans-Pacific service for passen f. er ? early ln November. Already the pre limmary work is being undertaken pre paratory to ushering in the passenger service between California and China. One ° £ the , cli PP ers recently dating. from 13

stewards and otLr aTtend

rooms, with stewards and other attend proceeding very carefully with

this^AofcaS p^engers

Pan American official. “We furnished might make observations. It also afforded the attendants an opportunity of accus to their surroundings b® £o , re ac£aal entry "'“I 6 P ass ,? n S ers on the long trlp across the Pacific,

Possible Formosa Link

Prospects that Pan American Airways may extend .its service in 1937 to For mosa were revealed recently by Mr. H.

Salto, chief of the business division of the Japan Air Transport Co., when visit ing Honolulu en route home from a busi ness visit to America. He mentioned Taihoku, capital of Formosa, as the poss ible terminus of the line. He admitted that extension of Pan American’s service into Formosa would require the consent of the Japanese Foreign Office, but he was convinced that the office would give its consent unhesitatingly.

T Taihoku is already linked with Tokio, Japan, by a 1,600 miles air line, mam three round trips eac A h week- Mr * gaito s company operates 50 aeroplanes, Shortly a new service will be opened be- T° ki o and . Hokkaido, in the north, For it Mr. Saito inspected Canadian aero planes which are equipped with wheels and skds for winter flying,

Huge Undertaking

Pan American Airways’ latest annual report is a revelation of the company’s vast international aerial network. The scheduled route mileage now flown totals 40,470. There are 202 terminal and inter

mediate airports in the system. Ground radio control and communications sta tions number 122. Passenger miles flown over the entire system totalled 53,000,000, an increase of 30 per cent, over the pre ceding year. Altogether 1,500,0001 b. of express were carried, an increase of 60 per cent. Payments made by the United States post office amounted to 4,500,000 dollars.

There are 3,100 Pan American em ployees. They are stationed within the United States and 38 foreign countries and colonies. The last year’s operations resulted in a profit of 1,193,732 dollars.

Gross income amounted to 10,100,000 dol lars. Flight equipment and ground facilities valued at 4,000,000 dollars were purchased during the year.

Mr. J. A. Lamb, of Messrs. R. S. Lamb and Co. Ltd., left Sydney on a brief visit to Suva, Fiji, by the Orford on August 27.