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REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR OF CIVIL AVIATION FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1947 The Hon. the Minister op Defence. I have the honour to submit the following report on civil aviation for the year ended 31st March, 1947. SECTION I.—ADMINISTRATION 1. Organization As at 31st March, 1947, the staff of the Branch, including personnel seconded from the Royal New Zealand Air Force, totalled 192. This substantial increase over the figure for the previous year was due to the appointment of aeradio personnel, the majority of whom transferred from the Post and Telegraph Department when this Branch took over the operation of aeradio facilities in New Zealand and at certain locations in the Pacific on 15th January, 1947. Consequent upon the assumption of responsibility by this Branch for the aeradio organization, the Airways Division was established. On the 28th March, 1947, Wing Commander E. A. Gibson, 0.8. E., A.M.1.C.E., A.F.R.Ae.S., A.M.A.Soc.Ce., A.M.1.E.(N.Z.), was appointed Director of Civil Aviation. 2. General Mr. E. F. Carpenter, A.F.R.Ae.S., Chief Aeronautical Engineer of the Civil Aviation Branch, visited the United Kingdom, Canada, and the United States of America during the period July-September, 1946. The primary purpose of this tour was to attend the Commonwealth and British Dominions Conference, held by the Air Registration Board in London. Mr. Carpenter also -visited a large number of aircraft-manufacturing firms examining constructional details and technical procedures, and investigated the civil aviation organizations in the countries visited in relation to the technical control of aircraft construction and operation. In August-September, 1946, Wing Commander I. A. Scott, 0.8. E., A.M.1.E.E., A.F.R.Ae.S., represented the Civil Aviation Branch at various demonstrations of the latest radio aids to navigation in the United Kingdom, the United States, and Canada, and also attended the first meeting of the Special Radio Technical Division of P.1.C.A.0. on radio aids to navigation. The Committee for Air Navigation and Ground Organization and the Committee of Meteorologists established under the South Pacific Air Transport Council met in Wellington from 16th August to 3rd September, 1946, to discuss matters connected with the provision of facilities for air services in the Pacific area. Delegates from the United Kingdom, Australia, Fiji, and New Zealand attended the meetings. The Committees put forward various recommendations for the improvement of aviation facilities in the South Pacific area, and as a result of decisions reached the " South Pacific Route Service Manual " was prepared in draft form during the meetings in Wellington and drawn up in final form after further discussions held in Melbourne, Australia, during October, 1946. This manual was issued as the 4th Edition of " FANZARO," which prescribes the control, communications, and meteorological organization in the Fiji - Australia - New Zealand area. A further meeting of the Committee for Air Navigation and Ground Organization, at which New Zealand representatives attended, was held in Melbourne between 28th January and Ist February, 1947. This meeting immediately preceded the regional meeting of P.1.C.A.0. referred to below, and in this instance the Government of Fiji was represented by the United Kingdom delegate. Between the 4th and 22nd February, 1947, representatives of the Civil Aviation Branch attended the South Pacific Regional Meeting of the Provisional International Civil Aviation Organization, held in Australia.

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