DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND FORESTS FOR 1933 113 



3. New Flying Equipment 



Replacements in flying equipment during the past season have been kept 

 down to the bare necessities. Such replacements as were made were necessary 

 to bring about a needed improvement in the performance of certain machines. 

 Two D.H.61 transport aircraft were equipped with the latest type Edo flotation 

 gear, while two Moth patrol machines were equipped with new type Edo 

 floats and Gipsy Mark 11 engines. The Vedette Amphibian was fitted with the 

 latest Wasp Junior 300 Horse-power motor. The verdict after a season of 

 strenuous operations is that all replacements made have materially increased 

 the efficiency of the machines concerned. 



4. New Ground Equipment 



The only new ground equipment installed during the year was the addition 

 of a mezzanine floor above the main floor ot the Headquarters Hangar at 

 Sault Ste. Marie. This added floor area provided more adequate accommoda- 

 tion for the sheet metal and welding shops, as well as bench and floor space 

 for the overhaul of Moth fuselages. This addition has proven a very serviceable 

 unit in that it properly segregates specialized work from the general activities 

 carried out on the main floor of the hangar. 



5. General Improvement in Position 



(a) Up-to-date Fleet: 



The year 1933 being the first year in which all units of the fleet are of 

 comparatively modern design and manufacture, the results obtained in the 

 average effective load moved per gallon of gasoline used has shown considerable 

 improvement. 



(b) Reduction in Variety of Spares: 



A substantial reduction in the variety and quantity of spare parts that 

 are required to be stocked has been effected through the reduction in the number 

 of types of machines in operation. 



(c) Ability of the Fleet to Handle Demand: 



Although the fleet has been modernized through the write-off of obsolescent 

 equipment, the reduction in the number of units available for patrol and sup- 

 pression work has dangerously reduced the ability of the fleet to adequately 

 handle the demands made during periods of intense or extended fire hazard. 

 Even though the present machines and personnel are worked under all the 

 pressure that it is safe to apply, not all the work can be done in one day that 

 should be done in order to make a reasonable advance in the suppression of fire. 

 The experience of the past season indicates that two modern transport machines 

 would adequately replace the four obsolescent units written off the books at 

 the end of the 1932 season. Such additions would serve at least to bring the 

 fleet up to its 1932 capacity. That its strength was inadequate may be judged 

 from the fact that considerable flying had to be bought from private operating 

 companies. 



(d) Service Facilities of Sioux Lookout Sub-base: 



During the 1932 season a sub-base at Sioux Lookout was procured. This 

 base is ideally situated and equipped to take care of the maintenance, repair 

 and overhaul requirements of the machines in the Western District. Its 



