88 REPORT OF THE No. 3 



have been possible. The completion of the deal on a basis permitting immediate 

 delivery was a welcome arrangement in that it added a much needed 900 horse- 

 power to the transport section of the fleet at a time when the freighting needs 

 of the Department were at their height. 



New Ground Equipment: 



A further saving has been effected in the purchase of the Northern Aerial 

 Minerals Exploration air harbour, complete with buildings, shop equipment, 

 living quarters and property. The whole layout is ideal in every respect as a 

 central operating and repair base for the Western District. Since complete 

 overhauls may be adequately carried on at this new base, which has an excellent 

 machine and wing shop, with a full complement of power and hand tools to 

 take care of all repair and overhaul requirements for the machines allocated to 

 the District, a considerable saving in ferrying, freight and express charges will 

 be realized each year. The new base is of particular value from an operating 

 point of view in that it has a well protected harbour which has excellent sand 

 beaches. These advantages cannot easily be over-rated in that the maximum 

 of safety and facility in the handling of machines on floats is assured. 



General Improvement in Position: 



The enforced retirement from service of the flying-boat equipment during 

 the winter of 1932-1933, in accordance with Federal regulations pertaining to 

 obsolescent flying machines, will make it very difficult to meet all the demands 

 which will most certainly be imposed on the Air Service during the periods of 

 abnormal fire hazard. This situation has been greatly relieved through the 

 acquirement of two new transport machines during the summer of 1932. It is 

 significant however, that the Air Service enters upon the 1933 season with four 

 less machines than it had at the end of the 1932 season. 



It is confidently expected that good results will accrue during the next 

 operating season, arising from the most recent purchases of both flying equip- 

 ment, and of the Northern Aerial Minerals Exploration air harbour at Sioux 

 Lookout. The new flying equipment has already effected an important reduction 

 in the purchase of flying from commercial concerns. The new air harbour as 

 previously intimated, will considerably reduce the expense of administering 

 the Western District. The acquirement of this well equipped air harbour will 

 also make an effective contribution toward the reduction in the purchase of 

 outside flying, since adequate facilities are now available at the centre of the 

 Western District to maintain all machines in first class condition, major repairs 

 not excepted. 



Features of the Operating Season 



Regional and Time Distribution of the Fire Hazard: 



On examination of the records for total flying hours done each month of 

 the flying season by the Air Service since 1924, it is found that the greatest 

 number of hours was performed in the month of August for the six years, 1925 

 to 1930 inclusive. In 1924 the peak occurred in May, and in 1931 it came in 

 July. During 1932, June yielded the greatest number of flying hours, reaching 

 an aggregate of 2,800 hours. From our records to date, it would appear as 

 though August were the normal month for peak load, and since fire hazard is 

 the greatest factor in variation of the hours performed each month, it would 

 seem correct to assume that fire hazard and fighting operations are at the 



