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Aviation History
1933
1933 - 1312.PDF
FLIGHT, DECEMBER 28, 1933 i COMMERCIAL AVIATION IN DENMARK IT was some fifteen years ago that the question of Danish air traffic was first, considered, when a number of prominent representatives of Danish in dustry, shipping, commerce and banking, " got together " to study in which way it would be possible to establish commercial aviation in Denmark. In the spring of 1919 a commission was arranged to consider the whole question, and as a result the following spring saw the for mation of Det Danske Luftfartselskab A/S. (the Danish Air Traffic Co., Ltd.). This company is thus one of the oldest of the European air operating concerns, looking back as it can upon thirteen years of activity. On commencing operations the company was confined to a comparatively limited number of activities. Commercial aviation was an entirely new departure, and the lack of experience taught the company many a valuable lesson. Negotiations were conducted between the company and the Danish Government with a view to the granting of a subsidy to help the company in its enterprise. The Government considered the question and acknowledged the importance of the new means of transport. In 1925 the company was granted a provisional yearly subsidy by the Danish State for four years, and at the same time the municipal authorities of Copenhagen showed interest by granting a subsidy for the same period. Both these sub sidies were allowed over an additional period after the completion of the four years. These subsidies enabled the company firmly to establish itself and to enlarge its field of operation. A regular season's timetable was arranged, partly by the company itself and partly in conjunction with foreign air traffic companies. At first the military aerodrome at Kloever- marken, in Copenhagen, constructed by the Government, was used by the company, but later operations were trans ferred to the airport at Kastrup, which was opened for commercial aviation in 1925. The Kastrup airport is situated on the eastern coast of Amager, and ranks amongst the finest airports in Europe. Besides being a Customs centre, it is a frontier airport, and consequently frontier police are to be found there. The equipment is quite up to date. An administration building on the northern side of the airport contains the departure and waiting rooms, the usual departments found at commercial aerodromes and the offices of the company. Two large hangars with workshops and fuel and oil supplies are on the aerodrome ; for seaplanes a landing stage is provided. A wireless station and a very efficient meteorological service are also available on the eastern side of the airport. Facing the coast is a first-class modern hotel and restaurant for pas sengers. During the fine weather the inhabitants of Copenhagen use the restaurant for picnics while they watch the busy life at the airport, and joy flights over Copen hagen are made on Sundays and holidays. Besides giving many their " baptism of the air," these flights are good propaganda for the cause of air travel. The company operates the following lines on a '' fifty-fifty '' basis with the Deutsche Luft Hansa A/G.:—Malmoe-Copenhagen- Berlin, Malmoe-Copenhagen-Hamburg. During the summer months a service is operated between Copenhagen and Flensborg. The company also works with the Swedish A/B. Aerotransport in operating the night mail service on the Malmoe-Copenhagen-Hannover route. The fleet of aircraft employed by the company consists of one Fokker FXII (three 465-h.p. Bristol " Jupiters "), three Fokker FVIIa (" Jupiters "), and one Desoutter monoplane (" Gipsy "). The FXII, which accommodates sixteen passengers, was built under licence by the Royal Navy Dockyard, and was delivered to the company in 1933. The FVIIa, which will carry eight passengers, was built in Holland. During 1932 the total distance flown by the company's machines was 261,525 km., of which 36,025 km. were flown on the night mail service. The Copenhagen-Roedby Haven route has been supplied by the Danish Government with beacons and two emer gency landing grounds for night flying aircraft. Three new beacons were established during 1933, thus completing the night lighting of the Danish portion of the Copenhagen-Berlin air route. The three new lights were: that on the S.W. corner of the Island of Amager, Jernen on the peninsula south of Koge Bay, and Stuby near the southern coast of Zeeland, close to the city of Vording- borg. The chain of beacons now numbers seven, placed in a straight line from Kastrup airport to Rodbyhavn, where the air route leaves the Danish island of Lolland to cross the Baltic on its way to Germany. An alternative route is provided which avoids crossing COPENHAGEN'S AIRPORT : Kastrup Aerodrome, situated a short distance outside Copenhagen, also has facilities for seaplanes. 1306
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