1928 DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND FORESTS lU 



OK., which remained at Sudbury throughout the whole period, completed 

 253.30 hours' flying. 



Sault Ste. Marie, the general headquarters, supervised the maintenance of 

 the base, Oba Lake, which in previous years was worked under the administra- 

 tion of the Central District Superintendent. 



OA. was stationed at the headquarters and OJ. at Oba Lake. These two 

 machines carried out 768.00 hours' flying, which is 15.81 per cent, of the total 

 flying, an average of 384.00 hours per machine. 



OA.'s total flying of 485.55 hours, which includes approximately 80 hours 

 on instructional flights, is a very creditable achievement in view of the age of the 

 aircraft, it being the oldest in the Service. 



Reconditioning . 



The increased flying hours for the shorter operating period and the efforts 

 made to keep the aircraft serviceable, made the overhauling of aircraft and 

 engines a problem which was defeated by the endeavour of the personnel of 

 the Service. 



In numerous instances engines were changed overnight, which thus did not 

 inconvenience the organization of the Forestry Branch. 



In one instance, during the hazard period, a machine left on patrol in the 

 morning, landed at the Headquarters, installed a new engine and was away on 

 patrol in five hours. This case alone gives an example of the co-operation of 

 the flying personnel in maintaining patrol efficiency. 



During the operating period the engineers at the reconditioning base at 

 Sault Ste. Marie, where all engines are completely overhauled every 100 hours, 

 invariably worked all night to supply operating districts with engines. 



The organization of the reconditioning period has experienced a complete 

 change. The recommendation in the previous annual report, that pilots as 

 helpers be dispensed with, has been adopted, and instead of the Chief Superin- 

 tendent and two Assistant Superintendents, the management of the plant is 

 now controlled by the Director, with the assistance of a Liaison Officer stationed 

 at the plant's headquarters. 



As the age of the machines increase, so extra precaution must be taken to 

 ensure that they will conform to the Air Board Regulations and will withstand 

 the strenuous work to which they are subject during the season. It is worthy 

 of mention that the wings, hulls and engines are completely stripped and rebuilt 

 each year before the machine is allowed to proceed on operations. The success 

 of the Service in carrying out the requirements of the Forestry Branch has 

 justified this policy, but it cannot be accomplished by allowing inexperienced 

 workers to recondition the machines. It is a well-known fact that this Service 

 can boast of having the best aircraft air engineers in Canada, but as aviation 

 increases, so we must expect to lose some of our engineers. Thus we have to 

 prepare ourselves for this day, which will inevitably arrive, by the formation 

 of a reserve pool which is at present on the strength of the Service, surplus to 

 requirements, but only during the operating season. 



Figures have proved that the existing complement of mechanics is none too 

 many for the short time and the amount of work which has to be done during 

 the reconditioning period. In addition to the reconditioning of aircraft and 

 engines, the personnel at the plant constructed various units of equipment for 

 the Forestry Branch, in addition to a number of canoes for the R.C.A.F. 



