116 REPORT OF THE No. 7 



(12) Meteorological Studies 



The Dominion Meteorological Service again provided daily special weather 

 forecasts which were of great assistance. This service also provided further 

 weather recording instruments for use at different headquarters and continued 

 to assist in the work of relating weather factors and fire hazards. 



II. Report of the Director of Air Service 

 Introduction 



The 1929 operating period of the Provincial Air Service was a most eventful 

 season, not altogether unexpected. 



The annual forecasts and the predictions of meteorological experts gave 

 sufficient evidence that an abnormal season was anticipated. As previous 

 seasons inclined to the rainy rather than dry weather it was safe to assume that 

 1929 would offer a diversion in the way of dry weather. 



During the period under review the service, operating 12 H.S.2 L. flying 

 boats, 12 moth seaplanes, 1 Vedette amphibian and 1 D.H. 61, flew 11,602.00 

 hours without injury to any passenger or personnel. Consideration may fittingly 

 be given to the accomplishments of the past operating year which speaks well 

 for the diligence, resource and determination displayed by the personnel of the 

 Air Service in general. 



The hours flown during the 1929 operating period seem considerably out of 

 proportion to the highest number of hours obtained in preceding years. The 

 same number of machines were utilized as last year and although they were used 

 to the utmost advantage in every possible way the number of machines in the 

 Service was inadequate to meet the flight requisitions of the Forestry Branch. 



That the Service would be lacking in suitable and sufficient equipment was 

 anticipated and was acted upon to the extent of recommending that new equip- 

 ment be purchased to replace or act as an adjunct to the transport or suppression 

 aircraft now operating. Each year the Service is called upon to undertake 

 additional work, extend its field of operation, transport greater loads, open new 

 bases and set an example as aircraft operators. 



The day of the flying boat as an economical means of air transportation 

 in this Service is past. Those in use in this Service have rendered exceptional 

 service for the last five years but each year their value and condition have 

 depreciated to such an extent that the reconditioning of these aircraft may now 

 be considered as not an economical operation. 



The severe fire hazard period, which extended practically over the entire 

 operating season, saw the Service equipment being used to the limit by the 

 Forestry Branch. In many districts machines were flying from early morning 

 until late at night, day after day, serviceing the fire crews, patrolling areas, con- 

 veying fire equipment from old to new fires as they broke out and in many 

 instances collecting civilians from remote areas to assist as fire fighters. 



An average of thirty fires were raging in the western districts at one period 

 and the dense smoke put up by these fires made flying exceedingly hazardous. 

 During this period of dry weather pilots flew at an altitude of no higher than 300 

 feet, day after day, for periods ranging from three to eight hours, to furnish the 

 fire-fighting crews with food and equipment. The hazard was so severe that 

 risks were taken, such as landing in small lakes near fires, flying cross-country at 

 low altitudes over dry areas, which would not have been taken under ordinary 

 conditions. The Air Service in all its dealings has endeavoured to carry out the 



