456 POLAR PROBLEMS 



any way to minimize the greatness of these flights as achievements, 

 nevertheless it is a fact that a meridian is about the least difificult 

 path to navigate. Furthermore, and this is the point to be emphasized, 

 the future of flying in the polar regions will depend on ability to 

 navigate between two points not on the same meridian. This must 

 be so if all the polar regions are to be explored by aircraft, as there are 

 few places situated on the fringe of the polar regions suitable as bases 

 for the start of aerial exploratory expeditions. Again, few of the 

 possible air trade routes pass directly over either of the poles. Con- 

 sequently in considering the various methods of navigating it is 

 necessary to judge them from the standpoint of the individual who 

 desires to go directly from any point in the polar regions to any other. 



