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Aviation History
1922
1922 - 0127.PDF
THE INTERNATIONAL AIRSHIP CONFERENCE AN International Air Conference, recently announced in FLIGHT, was held at Australia *House on February 14-17, with the object of considering the question of standardising certain airship fittings and other matters connected with the commercial airship. The Members of the Conference were :— British Empire Mr. A. H. Ashbolt, Agent-General for Tasmania (Chairman). Maj. Scott, A.F.C., R.A.F. France .. Capt Sable (Air Attache). Lt. de Vaisseau Joughland. Germany .. Maj. Stelling (Parseval Airship Co.). Commander Herrera (Zeppelin Co.). Italy . . . . Maj. Graziani (Air Attache). Russia .. Mr. Akasheff. v Spain . . Commander Herrera (Manager, Spanish- Argentine Airship Co.). U.S.A. . . Maj. H. C. Greiger (Army). Commander Dyer (Navy). Mr. E. Wallington Butt (Commercial). Hon. Secretary—Commander F. L. M. Boothby. The official report states that, in addition to the countries represented by delegates, Japan, Switzerland and Czecho slovakia intimated their acceptance of the principle and ask to be supplied with a copy of the report. 1. In accordance with the recognition by several nations of the immediate possibility of airship communication, this conference was called and invitations issued by the Chairman to the countries immediately concerned in this method of communication. It is essential to record the fact that the meeting was a strictly private one of experts of different nationalities to consider and discuss matters of common interest in airship communications. Consequently we have met as a Committee with the following terms of reference :— To Report— (a) On the desirability or otherwise of standardising certain fittings in connection with airships for International com munication. (b) If the principle is accepted to then determine what fittings should be so standardised. (c) On any other matter common to international airship Services. » 2. The full Committee met at Australia House on February 14 ; on the 15th a Technical Sub-Committee sat ; on February 16 the Conference visited the British Government Air Station at Pulham, inspected mooring mast arrangements, sheds and airships, and on February 17 the full Committee again met and adopted final resolutions. 3. The Committee is unanimously of opinion that the resolutions so adopted should be accepted by the nationalities concerned, and that all airships and airship stations built for international purposes should make provision for the recom mendations contained in the resolutions given below :— (1) That the principle of standardisation is accepted. (2) That standardisation means such an arrangement as permits the airships of one nation to use the landing, moor ing, gassing and refuelling arrangements of any other nation. (3) That each country retains for itself the right to receive airships by either or all of the following methods :— (a) At air sheds ; (b) by mooring on the ground ; (c) on water; (d) by three-wire mooring arrangements; (e) by mooring mast. (4) That when airships are landing at shed, on the ground or on the water, that all trail ropes, pulley blocks used in connection therewith, and handling guys, be standardised. (5) That any countries adopting the principle of mooring to masts, shall provide that such masts and ships be provided with standardised couplings, water, petrol and gas connections. (6) That this Committee recommends to the next Inter national Air Conference the formation of a Committee to determine the airworthiness of airships. It is recognised that the conditions of airship travel vary according to route and season of the year, consequently the impossibility of laying down a definite margin of fuel and ballast to be carried. The situation can best be met by the formation of a small permanent Committee to determine margins for each route according to it -i merits. (7) That each country be asked to create an official register of airships in which will be listed all airships and air stations, indicating such airships and air stations as comply with the " International Standards " hereinafter arranged. (8) That ponding the decision of the Commission Inter nationale de Navigation Aerienne it is resolved that the Council of the Royal Aeronautical Society of London be asked to permit their Secretary to receive correspondence referring to " International Standards." and if desirable to authorise him to convene a further conference. In such event invita tions will be forwarded to the countries interested through the Air Attaches of the Embassies in London. (9) That Lloyd's and Insurance Companies in different countries be informed of the resolutions and standards adopted by the Conference with a suggestion that such standards be adopted by Lloyd's and Insurance Companies as the basis upon which minimum rates of insurance will be fixed. Standards (10) That the metric system of measurement be adopted. (n) That all rigid, semi-rigid and non-rigid airships over 15,000 cubic metre capacity be required to carry :— (a) A trail rope of not less than half the length of the ship, with a minimum of roo metres. b) The forward side guy ropes to be of such a length as to reach not less than 40 metres below the lowest point of the airship. (c) Eyes to which other guy ropes can be secured. d) Some method for hauling down the stern. (12) Air stations are required to provide :— (a) A landing block capable of taking the largest trail ropes carried by any airship. (b) Side guys and toggles suitable for airships of any size. (13) All gas, fuel, water and oil coupling pipes shall be fitted with " International " right-handed threads. (14) In addition to facilities provided in sheds for refuelling airships similar facilities should also be available on the landing grounds. (15) This Conference recommends the following sizes as most suitable for the flexible connection between airships and mooring masts or air station r— Gas connection (inside measurement) . . 300 mm. Water ,, ,, ,, .. 75 ,, Fuel ,, ,, ,, . . 40 ,, Airships containing pipes of dimensions other than those indicated, to have such arrangements installed as will enable their pipes to connect up with the standards recommended herein. (16) All stations are to be fitted with female connections ; airships with male connections. (17) Airships designed for mooring to mast must carry a cone gimballed on to the ship and rotating on its own axis. The size and shape of such cone to be that shown on the attached drawing. (Drawings are being prepared and will, it is hoped, be published in FLIGHT.—ED.) The wires passing through such cone shall not exceed a diameter of 18 mm. Such landing wire must be fitted at the outboard and with a splice, the eye of which shall be 230 mm. long. Also as shown on the drawing. (18) The mooring mast station must provide a similar rope fitted with a quick coupling to take a loop at the out board end of the trailing rope. The mast to be fitted to take the rope (up to 18 mm. diameter) together with the necessary coupling. v (19) Suggested signals for mast mooring :— At Stations. At Day. At Night and in Fog. The position of the A White Patch By a White Light mast mooring wire waved. will be indicated by When the mooring wire By waving a By a White Light ropes have been White Flag flashed. secured the ground will signal airship -When the airship is By a Green Flag By a Green Light ready to haul down the ship will so indi- cate To stop hauling the By a Red Flag By a Red Light. ship will indicate To ease away the ship By Red and By Red and Green will indicate Green Flags Lights shown shown to- together, gether (20) That the standards arrived at remain in force for two years, when the whole question can be considered in the light of further experience then gained. If at any time any important development occurs or fresh inventions, or if by practical experience standards adopted are found dangerous, the Committee will immediately be convened to establish fresh standards. At the conclusion of the conference a hearty vote of thanks was passed to Sir Joseph Cook, the High Commissioner for Australia, in granting the use of the rooms for the conference. 127
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