Sydney-Rabaul

Air-Mail.

IP the directional installations in North Queensland and New Guinea (for which the Commonwealth Govern ment is responsible) are ready in time, the Carpenter air-mail service between Sydnev and Rabaul will commence run ning to schedule in mid-April; but if the installations are not ready, a series of survey flights will be undertaken be tween Sydney and Rabaul.

The new machines arrived in Sydney during January and February, and were duly assembled and tested. One machine left Sydney on March 15, with Miss Jo sephine Niau as its only passenger, and was flown over the route to Rabaul, and back to Salamaua, where it will be held in reserve. The other two will carry on the service from Sydney, The fare of £35, from either Sydney or Brisbane to either Salamaua or Rabaul, includes accommodation and transport to and from aerodromes.

These four-engined modem aircraft, cruising at 140 m.p.h., can seat 17 passen gers, but, to ensure greatest comfort on this service, only 10 will be carried, in addition to the crew of two, comprising Captain and First Officer.

A.W.A. have installed the most mod ern two-way radio equipment, which can be operated by voice or morse, and in addition, a special homing device which will enable the pilot to fly dead straight to any broadcasting station he can hear; or, on the other hand, h,e can get his bearings and thus check his course.

Civil Aviation Department have install ed ground direction-finding stations at Sydney and Brisbane, and are providing them also at Rockhampton, Townsville, Cooktown, Port Moresby, Salamaua, and Rabaul.

Hawaii-New Zealand.

There is no indication that Pan-Ame rican Airways will soon commence the air-mail service between Hawaii and New Zealand, which was interrupted by the destruction of the “Samoa Clipper” at Pago Pago. That section of the P.A.A. organisation is being kept in being, how ever.

It has been officially announced that no air-mail service across the Tasman, between Sydney and New Zealand, can be expected this year. It appears that the Imperial Airways flying-boats, soon to be used in the England-Australia ser vice, will not be suitable for the trans- Tasman flight. A bigger and different flying-boat is needed.