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Aviation History
1920
1920 - 1273.PDF
/ •.;••" DECEMBER 16, 1920 CIVIL AVIATION.-APRIL 1-SEPTEMBER THE third half-yearly report on the " Progress of Civil Aviation," covering the period from April 1 to September 30, 1920, signed by Sir F. H. Sykes, Controller-General of Civil Aviation, has been issued as a White Paper. Space does not permit of the Report being reproduced in full in these pages, but a summary of the chief items is given below :— International.—While several of the minor States have ratified the International Air Convention, general ratification has not yet taken place, but temporary agreements have been negotiated with Norway, Sweden and Denmark and Finland ; these have not yet been signed. Monthly con- ferences have been instituted with the French and Belgian air authorities in order to discuss all matters in connection with civil aviation affecting them, pending the establishment of the International Commission of Aerial Navigation. Commercial Services.—On the regular services established from London to Paris, to Brussels and to Amsterdam, passenger, mail and goods traffic increased substantial y compared with previous periods. Amsterdam has been the junction for air lines to Germany and the Scandinavian countries. The total number of machine miles, 689,600, is an enormous increase on the figure for the previous six months. It is interesting to note also that the aggregate machine mileage since May, 1919, is well over a million miles. Similarly, the number of passengers carried has been greatly increased, 32,345 having been carried. Goods have increased from 25J tons to 86$ tons, while the number of departures and arrivals to and from the continent has risen from 734 to 2,445, the value of imports from £131.615 to £376,606, and of exports from £63,743 to £168,300. The number of letters carried since the inauguration of the mail service shows a steady increase, especially on the London-Amsterdam service, and an efficiency of 76 per cent., 94 per cent, and 84 per cent, each has been obtained on the London-Paris, London-Brussels and London-Amsterdam services respectively. Organisation.—The Board of Customs and Excise has agreed to grant Customs facilities for seaplanes and flying boats at certain ports on the S.E. Coast, and, with the consent of the Admiralty, it is hoped to include an air port on the Medway. In addition, negotiations have been continued for the use of the Thames above Westminster Bridge by aircraft employed on mail service and other traffic. The experimental lighthouse at Croydon has proved of value to belated machines landing after dark. Two more experimental lighthouses are to be installed, one at Lympne and one midway between London and Folkestone. The civil aerodromes at Castle Bromwich, Manchester and Renfrew will be similarly equipped, when the volume of night traffic renders this desirable. The wireless direction-finder apparatus installed at Croydon has proved its value, enabling aircraft to correct their course in thick weather ; and the equipment of aircraft with the wireless telephone is extending as it is found to be of con- siderable assistance to navigation. Electric landing lights for indicating the direction for landing are being installed at Croydon Aerodrome, and trials are being made at the same aerodrome to test the value of powerful searchlights as a means of helping to locate the aerodrome. The installation of wireless stations for telephony and telegraphy has been continued, and stations are now open at Croydon, Lympne, Castle BromwiCh, Manchester and Renfrew. The British proposals for the new Radio-Telegraph and Telephone Convention, including all forms of com- munication to and from aircraft, have been framed, and these are now being considered by an International Conference at Washington. Pilots, etc., and Machines.—Revised regulations governing the issue of certificates to aerial navigators and pilots have been drawn up and arrangements made for the technical examination in navigation of civilian pilots. These naviga- tion tests will be strictly enforced in future. Medical Services.—It is now possible to begin to judge the effect of continuous civil flying on those engaged in the regular continental services, or on other continuous air work. It is interesting to note that the physical condition of the pilot so employed compares favourably with that of the selected University athlete, or of the candidate for a com- mission in the R.A.F. Research.—Experiments have been conducted by the Department of Research into the development of several new types of power plant, and, if these are successful, it will enable a fuel of a higher flash point to be used, thus making for safety and cheapness. Several new designs of aircraft are being produced with facilities for making adjustments to the engines during flight; and a satisfactory engine starter for use on the ground is now available. .;•-•;. 1275 30, 1920 Other investigations have been carried out to minimise the effects of mist and fog by mechanical dispersal, to secure the illumination of landing grounds, and to produce mechanical apparatus to cause machines to flatten out automatically just before touching the ground, as well as into the question of obtaining instruments for indicating accurately to the pilot his position in relation to the aero- drome and his height above the ground. Among other problems under consideration are those connected with the all-metal machine, helicopter, amphibian, and various instruments for night flying. Airships.—The Research Department is carrying out investigations in technical details affecting the possible future operation of airships in dry climates (Egypt),-while an improved mooring mast is to be erected in order to carry out further tests in mooring airships. Expenditure.—The Budget provided for an expenditure of one million pounds in aid of civil aviation during the present year. When the estimates were drawn up it was adopted as a guiding principle that expenditure should be estimated so as to procure the extension of general ground organisation both in this country and on cross-Channel and Imperial air routes should the development of civil aviation warrant it. The total estimated saving in the estimates amounts to about £400,000. Imperial Air Routes.—On the England-Egypt route a site has been secured at Malta for a new aerodrome, and steps have been taken to ensure the wireless communications along the air route between England, Malta, Egypt, Mesopotamia and India. The preparation of the Egypt-India route has been delayed owing to the unsettled conditions prevailing in Mesopotamia and Persia. Arrangements are being made whereby the maintenance of the aerodromes on the Cairo- Cape Town route will be borne by local governments ; this will relieve the British Government of financial responsibility. Dominions.—In Australia several air routes have been surveyed, and various schemes for the organisation of new air services between the principal towns are under considera- tion. In Canada a Government civil aerodrome has been opened at Ottawa, and a seaplane station at Vancouver is nearing completion. All regular Government air stations will be available as commercial stations ; and a preliminary survey of certain proposed air routes has been carried out. In India the Air Board has decided upon the provision of aerodromes on the Calcutta-Delhi-Bombay, Bombay-Karachi, and Calcutta-Rangoon routes. An Air Board has been formed in New Zealand. It is understood that the South African Government will decide upon their policy in regard to civil aviation, particu- larly as affecting air mails and the organisation of an Air Defence J%rce, as soon as the Director of Air Services arrives. A company in Bermuda is operating an air service, and is projecting new schemes in the West Indian Islands. Foreign.—As a consequence of the subsidies granted by the French Government to air transport companies carrying out regular services, a considerable number of routes have been organised and are working regularly. In Belgium the National Syndicate for the Study of Aerial Transport, which aims at obtaining the support and advice of the whole business community of Belgium, has organised daily air mail and passenger services between Brussels, London and Paris in. conjunction with British and French companies respectively. The municipal authorities of several commercial towns in Holland have shown their appreciation of the country's central position for international air traffic by drawing up plans for local aerodromes. Between September 15 and October 31 the Danish Air Transport conducted an air service between Copenhagen and Hamburg for the carriage of mails, goods and passengers. Efforts have been made to commence air traffic on a co- operative basis between Switzerland, France and Great Britain. In the United States the principal effort in civil aviation has* been concentrated on the operation of air mail services by the Post Office. In South America and the Far East no material progress has been made, but British and foreign interests are still endeavouring to develop the operation of air services on a remunerative basis. Late enemy countries have been handicapped b3* the re- strictions imposed by the Peace Treaty and the petrol shortage, but a number of types of machines have been passed as " civil " by the Inter-Allied Commission of Control, and German companies have been able, in conjunction with Danish, Swedish and Dutch companies, to start air service? between Warnemunde, Berlin, Bremen and Amsterdam.
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