Imperial Airways Come To The Pacific

Auckland in August—Fiji in September—Meanwhile, What of Pan American Airways?

Developments which are probable in connection with the establish ment of a trans-Pacific air-mail, connecting Australia and New Zealand with North America, are becoming a little dear—although still complicated by con tradictory reports of an extraordinary character.

There are still indications that Pan American Airways intend to make some use of a seaplane base under construc tion at Noumea, New Caledonia—which would indicate a direct run from Hono lulu to Australia, cutting out New Zea land. It is noted, for instance, that a considerable amount of Pan American Airways equipment arrived in Sydney, cn a Matson liner, and has been transhipped to New Caledonia.

P.A.A. Party For Noumea

THIS (a news cablegram from Honolulu, dated May 3) was published in “N.Z.

Herald”: — A Pan American Airways construction party of six men who are to establish an airways base at Noumea, New Caledonia, departed to-day by the “Mariposa” for Sydney and Noumea. The leader, Mr. A.

L. Lewis, formerly Pan American Air ways airport manager at Auckland, said he did not know when experimental flights would take place. He understood the American route would be Honolulu- Canton Island-Noumea-Auckland. He was positive that the company would not directly enter Australia. Another Pan American construction crew will, leave here within a week to establish a base at Canton Island.

Despite Mr. Lewis’ statement, it is most difficult to believe that the seaplanes will fly a very crooked course, via Noumea to Auckland (where Imperial Airways will mop up the limited traffic) instead of the straight course to Australia, where there is much traffic.

On the other hand, Mr. Harold Gatty,

Pan American Airways representative in Auckland, still insists that the P.A.A. ser vice will run south-west from Hawaii to New Zealand, as was originally proposed.

This is supported by the fact that Mr. E.

B. Buxton, P.A.A. meteorologist, is re turning to Auckland, where he is due on May 12. The Prime Minister of New Zea land also has expressed his belief that the P.A.A. service will come to Auckland, and not go to Australia, via Noumea, as has been reported.

Imperial Airways Progress

The clearest indication of what is likely to happen, however, is seen in the slow but very steady progress of the plans of Imperial Airways. Indications are that the British company will be running a service across the Central Pacific long be fore Pan American Airways can get into operation.

Two large new flying-boats, the “Aotearoa” and the “Australia”, were de livered to Imperial Airways in England on April 25, and they are to be flown out to Australia for the Sydney-Auckland service. Meteorological stations already have been established at Norfolk Island and Lord Howe Island to give essential information regarding weather. One of these new flying-boats will commence experimental flights between Sydney and Auckland in August.

Meanwhile, preparations are now being made for a regular air-mail service be tween Auckland and Fiji. It is expected that one of the two new flying-boats will make experimental flights between Auck land and Suva in September. Plans al ready are afoot for a meteorological station on Sunday Island (Kermadec Group) to provide weather reports. A technical expert from Imperial Airways already has been in Fiji, investigating proposed air bases near Suva, and he also has made an inspection of a sheltered port called Parengarenga, at the extreme tip of New Zealand, 200 miles north of

laden seaplanes leave the New Zealand coast for Suva.

Step by step, without any of the un fortunate haste which led to disasters in

the case of Pan American Airways, the British company is proceeding with its plans for establishing a service—first, from Sydney to Auckland; and then from Auckland, via Suva and Canton Island, to Hawaii and Vancouver.

Under these conditions, it is hard to believe that there will be enough busi ness in New Zealand to justify Pan American Airways in running a service between Honolulu and Auckland. It still seems much more likely that Pan Ameri can Airways will make an amicable work ing arrangement with Imperial Airways, under which a P.A.A. service will run from Honolulu, via Canton Island and New Caledonia, to Australia.

North Pacific Service

1 MEANWHILE, it is apparent that Pan American Airways are to have no competition in the North Pacific service, which they pioneered four years ago. At the beginning of March a Boeing Clipper—a magnificent thing, carrying 74 passengers and powered with four great engines, each developing 1,500 horse power—made a test flight from San Francisco across to Hong Kong and back; and it is expected that the new Boeing Clippers will in due course take the place of the Martin Clippers, which have been carrying on the service. The indications are that there are not yet sufficient freight and passengers to make this ser vice pay; but inevitably, the North Pacific air-mail will become one of the great aerial transport services of the world.