100 Trouble-Free
p. 102 · Read in the full issue
Flights
NAC’s Fine Record in South Pacific
WHEN the New Zealand National 1 Airways Corporation’s twin- engined Dakota “Poaka” made? its accustomed run in the South i Pacific in the early part of Sep tember (Auckland-Norfolk Is.-Fiji-- Western Samoa-Cook Is. and re turn) it actually was recording thee Corporation’s 100th flight in thiss area.
Accordingly, there were celebra tions. There were pleasant social!, functions; the plane’s crew were de corated in Aitutaki and with leis by pretty dancing girls off the Cook Islands; Commander RJ C. Barclay and Engineer Aspreyj were photographed under conditions in Western Samoa ancfe formally congratulated in the Cook Islands by Acting Resident!
Commissioner Walker; and NAC re ceived many compliments on the. record of 100 flights without anY .serious accident, cancellation or in terruption.
The New Zealand Air Force actu-i ally pioneered the routes referred' to; and NAC took over in November! 1947 —tw0 Sunderlands running thei service between Auckland and Lau-i cala Bay (Suva), and landplanes! opening the two routes Auckland-£ Norfolk Is., and Auckland-Fiji-i Samoa-Tonga-Cook Islands. was cut out only recently).
These services have been exceed-£ ingly valuable to the Islands Terri-! tories concerned. It is not knowin at this stage, whether the new TEAL service along the same route, buu extending from Cook Islands t»f Tahiti, will supplement the NAC. service, or will take its place. NAO. already has a big job in carrying on all the numerous and growing internal air services in New Zeac land.
Teal Survey Flight
A second survey flight over thri proposed route of the new TEAI/ service (Auckland-Fi j i - S amoas Cook Islands-Tahiti) was carries out during September by a 363 seater Solent. A new Solent, names Aparima, arrived in Auckland from Britain in mid-September, for thl TEAL services.
It is expected that the flying-timr between Suva and Apia will be cu: down by the Solents to 4 homri eastbound and 3 hours westboum. (the latter flights being helped fcf the tradewinds).