NEW AERADIO STATIONS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 203, 28 July 1937, Page 7

NEW AERADIO STATIONS.

HELP TO SHIPPING

The aeradio service of the New Zealand Post Office, the latest extension of its work for the benefit of aviation in the Dominion, will also provide facilities which under certain conditions will be of great value in connection with marine mishaps in New Zealand waters. These radio stations at the principal aerodromes are being equipped with direction-finding apparatus primarily for the purpose or the commercial air services of the Dominion. They .will transmit on 900 metres —the aeronautical calling wave for communication —so that ships equipped with direction-finding apparatus, as well as the aviators, may use these signals as a help in fixing their jrosition when approaching the New Zealand coast.

Of great importance, as far as ships are concerned, will be the ability of operators of aeradio stations to take bearings of a ship in distress and approximately locate its position, though this may on account of bad weather and other unknown factors differ considerably from the position sent in the distress message. Such a service would be invaluable when the ship in distress and the rescuing ships are not fitted with facilities for direction-finding. In connection with the recent loss of the 'plane piloted by Miss Amelia Earhart, the United States naval authorities called attention to the point that it the ’plane had sent out its distress signals on the 600 metro band, on which wave the search steamer Itasca had direction-finding facilities, it would have been possible to have i taken a bearing and thus improve the chances of success for the searchers. I