Chapter 4: The Bureau Begins to Grow (continued)

No meteorological observations were made at aerodromes before 1937. I remember that in 1934 when I was on duty at No 2 Drummond Street in the evening (except on Saturday nights) a Meteorologist commenced duty about 7pm, and would use 3pm observations to prepare aviation forecasts for the next day.

This was also the situation in other capital city offices. In Melbourne, forecasts would be prepared for Melbourne-Sydney, Melbourne-Adelaide, Melbourne-Launceston and other routes and phoned to the captain of the aircraft before take-off. I became a Meteorologist later and prepared these forecasts. Using the surface synoptic chart and some upper winds from pilot balloon observations made earlier in the day we prepared forecasts for flights leaving Melbourne early the next day. The forecasts were somewhat vague. For instance a forecast for Melbourne-Sydney might read 'broken cloud 4,500 to 5,000 feet south of the ranges, clear north of the ranges, Sydney cloudy. Strong westerly winds at flying level'.

When ANA'S Southern Cloud disappeared flying from Sydney to Melbourne it had a forecast prepared in the Sydney city office based on the 3pm chart from the previous day. A later forecast was available in the city office at the time of take off but there was no wireless for communication with the pilot after take off. I was on duty in the Melbourne city office that day. I wasn't a Meteorologist at that time. I can remember the weather in Melbourne was shocking and when the Fokker was overdue our phones started to run hot.

Bureau of Meteorology