108 REPORT OF THE No. 3 



The fire hazard for the past year was below normal. Because of this, 

 less flying was required by the Ground Services and on only two occasions 

 was flying requisitioned that the Air Service could not, or did not, supply. 

 The first was due to the loss of one of the D. H. 61's in Gander Lake on May 

 23rd, 1935. The second occasion was because of an accident to the Moth 

 which was stationed at Whitefish Lake. Certain repairs were necessary, 

 and the ship was again at its base in a period of ten days. 



Mercy Flights 



At least fourteen mercy flights were carried out, and definite assurance is 

 given that in six of these cases the flights undoubtedly resulted in the saving 

 of life. The others were of a serious nature but did not always involve a matter 

 of life and death. The Service has always stood ready and willing to carry 

 out this humanitarian work and will be prepared to do so, when conditions 

 warrant. 



Radio 



A number of tests were carried out to determine the utility of two-way, 

 voice to voice, radio communication. Reception in the aircraft was perfect 

 and no difficulty was experienced with the operation of the equipment. The 

 installation of such equipment necessitates bonding of the aircraft and shielding 

 of the engines. The bonding is being done as the aircraft come in for recondi- 

 tioning and is being incorporated in all new work, so that in due time all our 

 aircraft will be suitably fitted for radio installation. 



Fuel Situation 



A definite attempt has been made to use and redistribute huge surpluses 

 of fuel which were cached at far outlying points, some of which are today 

 beyond our present fire boundaries. In some cases these supplies had been 

 out for as long as five years and, judging from the amounts which were normally 

 drawn from these points, it would have been at least another five years before 

 they would have been exhausted. 



It is obvious that aircraft fuels of such age are useless, and that if any 

 return was to be realized for the money spent in their purchase movement to 

 a base at which they would be much more quickly used was imperative. Trans- 

 port aircraft was instructed to refuel at these points rather than at the home 

 base, but even then it became necessary to move large quantities, by ground 

 and water transport, to other bases where consumption was more rapid. This 

 process has been going on now for over a year but not yet satisfactorily complet- 

 ed. It is anticipated that, with a normal fire hazard in 1936, much will have 

 been accomplished towards this end. Our aircraft, after refuelling, have made 

 a practice of flying out the empty drums and much has been saved as against 

 the method of bringing them out by ground transport. 



By following this policy, it is felt that hundreds of gallons of gasoline have 

 been used up which would soon have become useless. 



The same has applied to aircraft oils. Again, huge quantities had been 

 cached at points at which the probability of their ever being used was very 

 remote. Advantage was taken of ground and water transport, and these 

 supplies have been transferred to Sioux Lookout. 



