Transpacific Air

Service

Meteorological Station at Noumea

IT would appear that the plan that Pan-American Airways shall run a sea-plane service across the Central Pacific from Hawaii to Australia via Canton Island and New Caledonia is be ing steadily proceeded with.

Details of the plan were given in the last issue of the “P.1.M.”, and it then was stated that a contract had just been signed between the Government of French New Caledonia and Pan Ameri can Airways, under which the latter were to establish a fortnightly return service between North America and Australia, via Noumea, before June 30, 1939. The island of Nouville, which lies opposite the town of Noumea, is now being pre pared as a suitable aeroplane station.

It is reported in the “Bulletin du Com merce” of January 28 (published in Nou mea) that Monsieur Suraud left Mar seilles on January 23, by the “Ville de Strasburg. for Noumea. He is a meteor ological engineer, and he is bringing with mm complete equipment, wherewith he will establish a meteorological station at

Nouville, and will direct its operation when it commences to function in con nection with the P.A.A. trahs-Pacific ser vice.

Although the terms of the agreement between the French Government and Pan American Airways have been published nothing at all has yet been said by Pan American Airways; and, so far as is known, that company is still committed to the plan under which it is to run a service from Hawaii down through the Samoan Islands to Auckland in New Zealand. The “Bulletin du Commerce”, says that up to January 28 the Ameri can company has made no official an nouncement concerning its plans for the organisation of an aero-port at Nouville.

Boeing Clipper’S Maiden Flight

Pan-American Airways’ giant flying boat, the Boeing Clipper, which is of a similar type to those intended ultimately for the South Pacific service, arrived at Hong Kong on March 5 on her maiden night across the Pacific from San Fran cisco.