In order to meet the needs of an ever-increasing volume of traffic, the C.N.A.C. has a number of most up-to-date machines in operation. During 1933-1936-which were record years in the history of the company-the directors of the C.N.A.C. decided to purchase and place in service the best and most modern type of equipment available, in expectation that the expansion of business would eclipse that of former years. This opinion has been more than justified by the results seen strice new and faster planes were put in servke, giving the public speedier and more comfortable service at reduced rates. Whereas the company was able to report a 70 per cent. increase in passenger traffc for 1934, as compared with 1933, popular approval of the company's progressive policy has shown itself by a 120 per cent. expansion of traffic during 1935 over the preceding year, while during 1936 the number of passengers carried again showed an increase over the previous year's record by no less than 8o per cent. During the last year nor only have there been many extensions and improvements of domestic services, but arrangements have been made for direct connections with European and American air-ways, so that China may be now considered to be linked with the world's most irnportant airroutes. The trans-Pacific ttclipper" service will have its eastern terminal in Hongkong and/or Macao, near Canton, while a C.N.A.C. station has been established in Hongicong with the consent of the British authorities, which will greatly increase the importance of the Shanghai Canton service to travellets. As for the efficiency attained in the operation of China's aerial communications, it is encouraging to note that Mi. J. T. Trippe, President of Pan-American Airways, Colonel M. Hirschauer, Inspector-General of Civil Aviation in France, and Major M. Wroasky, managing director of Deutsche Lufthansa, who recently visited this country for the purpose of inspecting conditions, testified that China Is as up-to-date in the matter of air lines as any country in the world, carrying mails and passengers with 'tspeed, safety, and comfort." The experts above-mentioned were also greatly impressed with the system of collecting and circulating meteorological information, and the elaborate and effective arrangements for maintaining close contact by wireless between the planes in flight and the ground- stations. Praise coming from such eminent foreign authorities on commercial aviation is indeed a high tribute. The policy of the company was expressed recently by Mr. Dai Enki, vice-president and director of the C.N.A.C., in a statement to the Press. "The day of antiquated aeroplanes of small capacity for the commercial air service of China is a thing of the past," he said. "As the people rapidly become more and more air-travel-conscious, China's air lines will soon be on a par with the best in the world."

The most notable additions to the CN.A~C. equipment since 1935 include a number of bigger and better planes now in service, which have made possible several increases in the flight schedules, as WCII as a considerable saving of time along many routes. The new machines consist of the following:-

1. A Ford 10-passenger plane which arrived early in March 1935, arid is now operating the Chungking-Kweiyarig service.

2. A Douglas 14-passenger transport, which arrived on March 28, and was placed in regular service on the Shanghai-Peiping line on May 14, 1935. This is one of the most advanced type of passenger air-liners built, possessing a maximum cruising speed of zoo miles per hour. The trip is made in approximately sir hours, including all 'tops. This is three hours less than the previous flying time, and enables passengers leaving either terminus at 6.30 a.m. to arrive at 12.30 p.m.. in good time for a for, engagement. (The slower 4-passenger Stinson planes formery on the same run are continued in service alternately with the new Douglas machines). A round trip in one day is made three times a week by the Douglas.

3. A second Douglas 14-passenger transport was purchased in response to insistent public demands for a one-day service between Shanghai and Chengtu. This arrived at the end of September, 1935, and was put in service in the following montk The most outstanding saving in time on any route Las been accom- plished on this Shanghai.Chengtu run A passenger leaving Shanghai at 7 a.m. reaches Chengtu at 3.30 pin. the same day. Mail, which earlier in die year normally took three days to reach Chengra by air from Shanghai, now will bring a reply from the Saechuan capital in two.

4. The two Douglas DC2 transports mentioned above were followed by the purchase of a third machine of the same make, delivered in May, 1936. With these three machines an unbroken schedule on both the Shanghai-Chengtu and Shanghai-Peiping routes was assured.

5 Three more Douglas DC2 transports, as well as a giant Sikorsky S43 flying boat, have been purchased by C.N.A.C. and will be delivered in the Spring of 1937. With the aid of these highly efficient arad speedy machines, it is planned to effect an aliround improvement in the schedules of the various C.N.A.C. air-lines.

The time-saving resulting from the employment of these new machines has enabled the company to greatly improve its schedules. Apart from the instances noted above, the schedule of three round trips per week between Hankow and Chungking, prevailing earlier in 1935, has been increased to four round trips, in addition to three round trips flown by the Shanghai-Chengtu Express (Douglas). The Chungking-Chengtu line schedule, earlier in the year, which called for four round trips weekly, has been increased to a daily schedule with Stinson planes, in addition to the three round trips of the Shanghai-Chengtu Express.

"Traffic on the Shanghai-Peiptng line has grown by leaps and bounds and surpassed all our expectations," reported Mr. Dai Enki in the statement already referred to. "The Douglas plane has been over So per cent. full on all its flights to Peiping, on the average. Frequently it is over-booked, and reservations must be made as much as a fortnight in advance. And not only is the Douglas plane filled, but the 4-passenger Stinsons also. The Shanghai-Peiping run, in fact, has become one of the company's most popular services.

"As a result C.N.A.C. plans to replace all their old pranes with new, speedier and larger models. At present the company is negotiating to purchase several more 10-passenger planes for the Yangtze line. While land planes have been suggested, the company would only consider seaplanes or amphibians for reasons of safety. The Yangtze offers a continuous landing-place, which would not be true if land planes were used. When the new planes are wed on the Yangtze run, the rates will be further reduced, and it is confidently expected that the volume of mail and passenger traffic will show an increase as striking as that of the Peiping line. In fact, expansion of traffic on other C.N.A.C. lines is restricted only by the shortage of new planes. This situation will shortly be changed, and a boom in air travel seen in China."

C.N.A.C. possesses a large fleet of aeroplanes on active service along its variow routes, while more are being ordered. The list comprises the following:-

1 Five Lening flying boats, each with a 475 H.P. Hornet motor, cruising at 90 miles per hour. Capaciry, two pilots and five passengers. These are in service between Ckengtu and Hankow, and will shortly he replaced by the Sikorsky flyingboats, which have been ordered and are flow undergoing exhaustive tests in the U.S.A. Four of these are machines are intended for the Shanghai-Chungking-Chengtu line. flach is powened with two 700 H.P. Cyclone Motors and possesses a cruising speed of 170 miles per hour. Capacity, two pilots and eighteen passengers, in addition to 1000 lbs. of mail and freigkt.

2. Five Stiason planes, each with a Whirlwind 300 H.P. motor, cruising at 105 miles per hour. Capacity, two pilots and four passengers. These are in service between Shanghai and Peiping and between Chungking and Chengru.

3. Two Douglas Dolphins, each with two Wasp 450 H. P. motors, cruising at 140 miles per hour. Capacity, two pilots and sia passengers. These are in service between Shanghai and Canton.

4. One Ford plane, fitted with three Wasp 450 H.P. motors, cruising at 120 miles per hour. Capacity, crew of three and ten passengers. This plane is in sernce between Churigfring and Kweiyang.

5. Three Douglas Tranports, type DC2, each with two 700 H.P. Cyclone motors, cruising at iSo miles per hour. This plane is sinnilar to that placed second in the London-Melbourne Race in 1935, and those used on the U.S. coast-to- coast service. Capacity, crew of four and fourteen passengers. This plane is the most up-totlate of its kind, being equipped with adjustable pitch propellers, retractable landing-gear, landing-flaps, fixed stabiliact, and two-way radio. It is thoroughly wund-proof, and has forced ventilation and steam-heat, as well as refrigerator, toilets, and drinking-water tanks. The seats are particularly comfortable, beirtg adjustable to any position and angle. These planes are used on the Shanghai-Peiping line, ria Nanking, Tsingtao and Tientsin, and on the Shanghai-Chengtu Express run.