Service

Central Pacific Air Service Rarotongans' Narrow Escape

Aitutaki (C. 1.) Dec. 3.

THE air-station here, which has at tained considerable importance, saw a very narrow escape from a bad accident, a few days ago.

Normally we have a fortnightly ser vice. The Dakota leaves New Zealand and comes via Norfolk Island, Fiji, Tonga, and Samoa, arriving about 2 p.m. on a Friday after a 5-hours’ flight from Samoa. It stays an hour before going on to Rarotonga one hour away. The Public Works Department last August took over this station from the Ameri cans.

The plane stays in Rarotonga over the week-end. Frequently a special week-end trip is made from Rarotonga to Aitu taki and back, when the service is eagerly patronised by Government offi cials and by natives.

It is said that the hops between Aitu taki and Rarotonga are the only two stages of the “kite’s” schedule which pay. The fare is £2/10/- single, and there is always a waiting list.

The schedule has just been altered.

The plane arrives here on Saturday and returns (from Rarotonga) on the fol lowing Thursday. This is unpopular be cause Administration and other offices have to be open on Saturday afternoons.

ANEW radio range has been installed in Aitutaki. By the end of November it was ready for air test and cali bration.

On November 30 the C 47 brought Mr.

D. O. C. Haskell (Director of Aerodrome

Services, P.W.D.) and F/Lt. J. F. Gab ites (Senior Forecaster for the New Zealand Service). The plane went on to Rarotonga and returned on Decem ber 1 to carry out the tests.

When the tests were over, the plane took on the following passengers, at 3 p.m., to return to Rarotonga: Judge A. McCarthy (Deputy Resident Commissioner), Mrs. A. McCarthy, Messrs. Haskell and Gabites, Mr. D.

Reid (secretary to R.C.), Mr. H. H. Hick ling (Resident Agent, Aitutaki, Mr. W.

Hosking (Department of Agriculture, Rarotonga), Mr. McKenzie (Education Officer), Mr. Norman Mckegg (manager of C.1.T.C., Rarotonga), Mr. Henley McKegg and eight native people.

The Dakota rose easily, and friends and officials who had just farewelled the travellers started for home. Suddenly the even roar of the aircraft’s engines was interrupted by spluttering and back firing, and the plane was seen to be banking round to return to the island.

What altitude she had achieved—only about 150 feet —she just maintained as she curved round towards the far end of the strip. A perfect landing was made, with only one engine, although she had a full complement of passengers and freight and a heavy load of fuel.

Much praise was given to the pilot, F/Lt. J. Priestley, for skilful handling in a precarious situation. A crash into the coconut trees or the sea would have caused fatalities.

What was thought to be magneto trouble was diagnosed as something more deep-seated, and a new engine was necessary before the plane could pro ceed. The travellers were forced to spend a few days’ “holiday” in Aitu taki. Although the island’s accommoda tion is very limited, all were provided for somehow.

A special aircraft is due here from New Zealand on December 5 with a new engine and installation gear. It will take over the schedule which the grounded aircraft was unable to com plete.