126 REPORT OF THE No. 3 



II. Report of Director of Air Service 

 Introduction: 



The work of the Ontario Provincial Air Service during the year 1931 has 

 been directed, as in the past, toward the further development of its aircraft and 

 the further promotion of aircraft in the work of the Department. 



Outstanding in these connections were the addition of new transport aircraft, 

 redesigning and building aircraft, installation of new devices, general increase 

 in performance of all types and general expansion of operations. 



Progress of a most gratifying nature has been the reliability of the engines. 

 Examination of our records discloses the fact that the reliability is due to the 

 development of the inspection procedure governing our aircraft on operations. 



The Western District, which hitherto enjoyed the distinction of supplying 

 the greater percentage of flying hours, had a respite this year due to a compara- 

 tively low fire hazard. The fire hazard and fires in the Eastern District equalled 

 in intensity the fire situation which existed in the District in 1923, with the 

 result that all available transport aircraft were obtained from the Western 

 District to assist in fire-fighting duties. 



The movements of aircraft from one district to the other brought about 

 the necessity of organizing a new flight in the service with a complement of three 

 transport aircraft and the Vedette, which is used in connection with the photo- 

 graphic and survey operations. The object of this flight, which operates inde- 

 pendently from the two districts, is to assist in fire-fighting duties when and 

 where as requisitioned under authority from the Toronto office. 



Of immediate value to the Branch in general is the research work undertaken 

 by the Radio Section. The value of two-way communication, that is between 

 ground stations and aircraft, cannot be estimated because it opens up such a 

 wide field of possibilities. It is evident that radio communication will reduce 

 flying hours and promote speed and efficiency in the ground organizations. 



Each year the demands upon the transport aircraft become greater. They 

 are now used extensively throughout the season, both summer and winter 

 operations. The present complement of aircraft of this type is inadequate to 

 meet the demands, consequently the services of commercial aircraft are still 

 required. In this respect it is noted that the majority of available commercial 

 aircraft have comparatively small pay or effective loads. Neither do the 

 operators show any inclination to land in the smaller lakes. 



The flying hours of the season show a decrease of 3,283.57 hours as compared 

 with the season of. 1930. This decrease was largely due to the adverse weather 

 conditions which prevailed in the Western District throughout the season, and 

 towards the latter part of the season in the Eastern District. 



The 1931 period commenced with a complement of twenty-seven machines, 

 comprising one D.H. 61, three Hamiltons, one Fairchild 71, six H.S. 2 L. flying 

 boats, 14 Moths, a Fairchild 34, and a Vedette. Of this number one Hamilton, 

 one flying boat, and the Fairchild 71 were lost under circumstances described 

 later in this report. The five large seaplane transport aircraft continue to play 

 an important roll in fire-suppression duties, contributing approximately one-fifth 

 of the total 10,908.43 flying hours and conveying 595 tons 1,067 lbs., including 

 men and equipment. 



The D.H. 61, which was redesigned and reconditioned, performed excellently 

 throughout the entire operations carrying exceedingly heavy loads. All credit is 

 due to the personnel whose care, maintenance and keen judgment in connection 

 with the operation of this aircraft and engine has added another very interesting 

 page to the history of our service. The fourteen Moth aircraft in the service 



