Captain BALFOURasked the Under-Secretary of State for Air (1) if he can state the approximate length of sea crossing from Greece to the North African coast which will have to be undertaken 2058W by the Indian air mail on the recently adopted new route to Egypt; and whether the Air Ministry have approved of this sea crossing by the type of aircraft to be used; (2) Whether land machines or flying-boats will be used for the crossing of the Imperial Airways aircraft on the Indian mail service from Athens to the North African coast?
§ Mr. MONTAGUEThe sea-crossing in question is completed in two stages, the first stage being from Athens to Crete and the second from Crete to the North African coast. The distance in the former case is approximately 180 and in the latter 310 statute miles. The aircraft to be used for this crossing are flying boats which, although formal Air Ministry approval of them in relation to a particular crossing is not required by the agreement, are regarded as quite suitable for the purpose.