Service Again

Ura Airstrip Val Tarte Gets His Service Again

THE opening in early August of Ura airstrip, southern Taveuni, for Fiji Airways’ scheduled flights gets this part of the big island back onto the air routes.

Back in 1947, Mr. J. V. (Val) Tarte, of Waimaqere estate, Taveuni. reading of the increasing activities of a charter aircraft operated by ex-RAAF pilot, Tom French, offered to build an airstrip on his leased property at Ura. The offer was accepted, and on October 2, 1948, Mr.

French crossed 120 miles of open sea from Suva in his Taylorcraft and landed at Ura.

As passenger was Mr. G. Lee, a radio technician, who went across to Taveuni to instal the first picture theatre there, also for Mr. Tarte.

This first flight marked the be ginning of a service that operated for almost two years, with a frequency of better than once weekly.

The aircraft finally was withdrawn from service because there were then no facilities in Fiji for a com plete overhaul.

Then for almost four years Taveuni lost its air connection with Viti Levu and the capital.

Fiji Airways, under Harold Gatty,.

was established in 1951, and there was a revival of interest in air com munications throughout the Colony.

Later, an airfield was built at con siderable cost at Matei, on the ex treme northern tip of Taveuni.

There was much criticism in Fiji over the final cost of Matei and also, from a flying point of view, of its site.

The authorities, at that time, would not recognise Ura private strip, but Mr, Tarte never gave up.

He doggedly went ahead, at his own expense, and extended it to 800 yards, making many improvements and, finally, erecting a flight office and shelter-sheds.

A short time ago it received approval as a full-load landing area.

That’s why, on August 2, when Fiji Airways Drover FAS landed on the first commercial flight, Mr. Tarte’s smile was broad as he welcomed Captain M. J. F. Morrissey and Mr.

R. S. Kay, secretary of Fiji Airways.

Drovers call at Ura three times weekly at present—Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday. It is hoped that a profitable air-freighting busi ness will be established with vege tables and other market produce from fertile Taveuni to Suva—the island has long been known as the “Garden of Fiji”.

Hotel Airstrip

ANOTHER private airstrip being constructed in Fiji is almost opposite Korolevu Beach Hotel, on the western side of Viti Levu.

Again, Mr. Tom French will open up the service, using a Piper Carib bean 4-seater aircraft.

The plane is due at Suva on the Monterey from USA on September 25, and the fight flight to Korolevu will be early in October.

It will make Pacific history Korolevu Beach Hotel will be the first hotel in the South Pacific to have its own landing field and operate its own aircraft solely for the convenience of guests.

Visitors will be able to reach the hotel entrance from Nadi airport in 20 minutes, at approximately taxi fares —but avoiding the dusty three hours’ road journey. Guests also may visit Suva for a day, without the discomfort of road travel.