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Aviation History
1927
1927 - 0467.PDF
JUNE 30, 1927 AIR TRANSPORT IN MALAYA FOR some months past negotiations have been in progress for the establishment of one more link in the chain of Imperial air routes. The recent visit by air of Mr. R. C. Kemp, Managing Director of the Air Survey Co., Ltd., to Singapore was made for the purpose of submitting definite proposals for an air service in Malaya. Associated with Mr. Kemp in the management of the Air Survey Company are Col. C. H. D. Ryder, C.B., C.I.E., D.S.O., late Surveyor-General of India, and Mr. F. P. Rayn- ham. During the past three and a-half years this com- pany has had unique opportunities of studying flying con- ditions in the East. It has been continually engaged on important surveying contracts, and in connectionwith this work has become thoroughly acquainted with the whole of the route from India to the north of Borneo in all seasons of the year. The present proposals, which are being favourably received by the Governments concerned, by important shipping companies and commercial houses, provide for a daily service between Penang, Port Swettenham and Singapore, and if, as is hoped, a system of co-operation with the Dutch can be arranged, extensions to Belawan (Deli) in Sumatra, Muntok in Banka, and Batavia in Java. To carry out and maintain this service the formation of a new company, to be called the " Eastern Airways, Ltd.," is proposed, and on the board of directors some of the largest commercial interests in the East will be represented. Designs have been prepared of two entirely new types of seaplanes. It is considered that these machines not only promise to be particularly suitable to the climatic conditions under which they will have to work, but that they will also prove to be far in advance of any aircraft yet produced. Both types will be monoplanes constructed entirely of metal. One will be fitted with three engines of 450 h.p., and be capable of carrying a crew of two, 18 passengers, and just under 1 ton of freight and mail when carrying fuel sufficient for 275 miles. The smaller type will have one engine of 450 h.p.. and will carry a crew of two, six passengers and mails to the extent of 180 lbs., and have a range of 350 miles. The main operating base will be at Singapore, where a large hangar, slipway, offices and stores will be erected. At Penang it is proposed to provide similar facilities with the addition of a very completely equipped workshop capable of dealing with all machine and engine overhauls and repairs. It is hoped that in the near future the manufacture of spare parts will also be carried on here, and at a later date possibly complete aircraft turned out. Such an establishment should prove a very valuable national asset in the case of war, as its situation should be ideal for assisting to maintain the supply of aircraft to units of the Services stationed in the East. At Batavia and Bclawan provision is made for hangars, slipways, offices and stores, while at all these bases and also Port Swettenham and Muntok wireless stations, rapid fuelling facilities, moorings and motor boats will be provided. A machine will fly each way between Singapore and Penang daily, except Sundays, leaving at 1.0 p.m. and arriving at 5.13 p.m. Going north it will call at Port Swettenham after 1 hour 58 minutes' flying, and going south after 1 hour 45 minutes. Singapore to Belawan will be flown each way three times per week in 4 hours 13 minutes, allowing for a half-hour halt en rovite. Batavia to Singapore will be flown each way twice a week in 5 hours 50 minutes, with a halt at Muntok. It is hoped that an adjustment of the time- table at a later date will make it possible to complete the journey from Penang or Belawan to Batavia via Singapore in one day, but for the present it is considered advisable to fly one link only per day. The times to Penang and Belawan will be subject to alterations on two days each week in order that they may connect with the outward and homeward- bound mail ships. The projected fares will range from S43 to Port Swetten- ham, $82 to Penang, and SI 17 to Batavia. The full advantage of the acceleration to the European mails will not be gained until this service is linked up via Rangoon and India to England, but even with the service as it is at present planned some very considerable saving in time will take place. Letters posted at noon in Singapore will catch the home- ward-bound ship from Penang the same evening, which will make it possible to reply to the home mail of the same week. The advantages to local mail and passenger traffic will be enormous. Singapore, Batavia, Kuala Lumpur, Penang, and Northern Sumatra, the main centres of commercial AIR SURVEYING UNDER DIFFICULTIES : These two photographs show the " aerodrome " of the Air SurveyCo., Ltd., at Chittagong during a storm and, above, after the storm. The survey party has now left for the Malay Staies to carry out further surveys. During the Chittagong survey 1,200 square miles were covered by verticalPhotography. The Malay States survey will include a large-scale town plan of Georgetown, Penang. Mr Nevill Vintcent^oife of thi firm's pilots, has recently carried Burma's first air mail from Rangoon to Tavoy, a distanceof 245 miles, in 3£ hours, whereas the weekly mail boat takes 48 hours Mr R. C.Kemp, the managing director of the company, is now in the East superintending the work. 425
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