Lord Howe's precarious

grip on air link

Lord Howe Island’s flying-boat link with Sydney will continue for about two months on a weekly basis after May 31, the deadline Airlines of NSW gave for withdrawal of the service.

The manager of Airlines of NSW, Mr Phillip Steadman, said it was ex pected that the 3,000 ft airstrip being laid by Australian Army sappers would be finished before May 31. The Department of Works expected it would take about two months for the strip to consolidate and become fully operational.

“Because of this we have under taken to keep a flying-boat going to provide an essential link,” Mr Stead man said. “At that time of the year there is only one service a week, and Lord Howe people use that time to take their own holidays or carry out maintenance on their buildings.

Airlines of NSW have two 30-year old Sandringham flying-boats on the service. Some Americans had shown interest in buying them, and it is pos sible that at least one would be sold soon after May 31.

Lord Howe people are perturbed as the date for withdrawal of the service draws closer. At the other end of the scale, the Australian Conserva tion Foundation claims that the air strip could be disastrous for the en vironment.

Two inquiries are sought. One is by the Lord Howe Air Service Com mittee, which has asked Prime Minister Gough Whitlam, and the NSW Premier, Sir Robert Askin, for a committee of inquiry into the island service. The Australian Conservation Foundation, claiming the airstrip could be disastrous for the environ ment, wants a public inquiry into the effects of air transport on the island.

The Lord Howe Air Service Com mittee contradicts statements by Air lines of NSW that the service is not profitable. It claims pilots and crew are available for the service, and that the flying-boats in use are safe, and would be for years to come.

The committee also asked if a survey has been made on the effects of the decision to end the service, particularly as 90 per cent of the island draws all or part of its income from tourism. It claims that island representatives were not invited to meetings at which the problems of an air service were discussed.

Airlines of NSW would probably be prepared to fly a 45-seat Fokker Friendship to Lord Howe Island if the airstrip was suitable. But an emergency strip does not come any

where near the requirements of a Friendship. It is more suitable for aircraft seating up to 10 passengers, and it is extremely doubtful if small aircraft would be a viable proposition.

A thin ray of hope for flying-boats remains. Marin-Air Pty Ltd, of Sydney, has made an approach to the Grumman Corporation, of New York to buy turbo-prop flying-boats, con verted from Albatross amphibians.

These aircraft would carry about 20 passengers a flight. So far no amphibians have been converted.

A Grumman representative, who visited Lord Howe recently to check the lagoon in relation to an Albatross service, said the amphibian drew less water than the Sandringhams. That would give it more flexible landing times than Sandringhams, which have to time landings for suitable tides.

Grumman and Marin-Air mston engine Albatross aircraft could be used as a stopgap, pending conversion of the amphibians.

Transport Briefs

• The Are Are Masina Co, of Malaita, has taken delivery of a new ship, the $25,000 Harutai Masina, which will carry 36 passengers, and 30 tons of copra and other cargo from the main ports of Malaita to Honiara. The Harutai Masina is 53 feet long, and is built of ferro-cement. • Sofrana-Unilines has sold the Capitaine Kermadec to a buyer in the Philippines. The ship, which was on the New Zealand-Papua New Guinea run, was replaced by the Capitaine La Perouse. • The Union Steam Ship Co’s launch Ranadi, a familiar sight in Suva Harbour for 38 years, was crushed by another USS Co vessel, the Pukeko, 1,020 tons, and sank in Walu Bay on January 25. The launch was handling the Pukeko’s lines when the mishap occurred. The USS Co will repair the Ranadi if the hull is not too seriously damaged. • Fiji is steadily building airstrips which will give small islands a link with Suva. This year strips will be laid at Vanua Balavu, in Central Lau, and Kadavu. In the next three years Nabouwalu, in western Vanua Levu, Rotuma and either Matuku or Moala Island, between the Lomaiviti and Lau islands will get strips. Fiji Air Services is ready to start services to Kadavu and Vanua Balavu as soon as the strips are ready.