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Aviation History
1935
1935 - 0145.PDF
JANUARY 17, 1935. FLIGHT. 75 LORD SEMPILL, A.F.C., F.R.Ae.S., MAKES AN ENFORCED STAY AT CAL CUTTA ON HIS WORLD FLIGHT AND DISCUSSES AVIATION PROGRESS IN INDIA AT Calcutta I was held up for two days by the discovery that my oil tank had developed a small leak in the lower seam where it backed on to the fuselage. As this showed signs of extending, 1 decided to remove the fairing and fabric and have it thoroughly repaired whilst I had the opportunity. Having dismantled the tank I was able to get it rewelded by the Aluminium Manufacturing Company, who did it well. I considered myself fortunate in thus getting over a difficulty which, unattended, might well have assumed serious proportions. I was much in debted to Mr. Woollard, who is in charge of technical matter for Indian National Airways, for all the assistance I received in this connection. The Indian ground engineer deputed to help me was a good mechanic, very willing and careful. During my enforced stay at Calcutta, I was the guest of Mr. R. C. Kemp, a director of Indian Air Survey and Transport, Ltd., and Indian National Airways, who is a real pioneer. Both he and Mrs. Kemp were most kind, and 1 was very grateful for their hospitality, particularly as they were preparing shortly to leave for England. It is one of the pleasures of a trip of this kind that everywhere one finds old friends whose desire to make one feel com fortable and at home will not be denied. The airport situated at Dum-Dum, well known, of course, as the place where the soft-nose expanding bullets of the same name were originally made, is some ten miles from Calcutta. The aerodrome is good in dry weather, and the buildings are well equipped and maintained, but serving as it does one of the largest cities in the world, it should be more central, and it is probable that a site only two miles away from Calcutta will take its place. Empire Air Routes IN view- of the criticism levelled at the comparative * slowness of our air lines, it is worth pointing out that the air traveller from London will, in accordance with present time-tables, reach Calcutta in seven days whether he flies by British or Dutch machines. If he chooses a French air line, his journey will take a day longer. It was, until the recent assurances, the future acceleration of our Imperial air services which had caused anxiety. Both the K.L.M. and Air France seem to be well ahead with their plans for 1935, and if the former are able to place the Douglas machines into regular service, and the French utilise the new Dewoitine monoplanes on their eastern route, we must lose no time in equipping ourselves to meet this competition. The speeding up programme visualised by our own Government involves, of course, a great improvement in ground organisation along the route, and it is much to the credit of the Indian authorities that they have realised the importance of this essential aspect. In August last the Indian Government voted an expenditure up to ^700,000 Jre main Purpose of increasing such facilities. I he development of commercial aviation in India cannot, I r+vf86' be comPared Wlth that in Europe and America, out the foundations have been well laid, and there is every reason to hope that progress will be continuous. At a time 11 there seemed to be a suspension of official interest in Developments In India aviation the Tata Company, as a private enterprise, stepped into the breach. Compared with its vast interests in other commercial fields, the venture of this company into air transport was but a small activity. Nevertheless, its highly successful pioneering service from Karachi to Madras via Bombay, a distance of 1,500 miles, showed what could be done under Indian conditions. Although passengers are carried over some section of the route, the policy of the company has been to concentrate on the carriage of mails and freight. Comparatively small machines have so far been used, but the increase in the demand for this service is such that the company will soon have to add to their flying stock. An extension of this line to Ceylon will, it is hoped, be in operation within the next few months. A great deal of credit is due to the Tata Company, for not only have they shown their faith in the future of air transport in India by being the first in the field, but it is said they have maintained this service with 100 per cent, regularity. With the formation of India Trans- Continental Airways, Ltd., and Indian National Airways, Ltd., a great impetus has been given to commercial flying The former company, which is, of course, controlled by Imperial Airways, Ltd. (I.N.A. and the Indian Govern ment are also shareholders), is responsible for the Imperial route from Karachi to Singapore. Indian National Air ways operate, in addition, a line between Calcutta and Rangoon via Chittagong, Akyab and Bassein, and also run between Calcutta and Dacca. Extensions are proposed. Qovernment Assistance THERE is no doubt the Government of India is im pressed with the potentialities of aviation, and its finan cial support takes various forms. Last year they allotted Rs.40,000 from the Petrol Tax Fund for certain purposes in connection with flying. Part of this sum was used in providing financial assistance for a number of Indian ground engineers to undergo further training in England. In view of the attention which has recently been focused on the question of prohibited areas, and the inconvenience which has been caused, particularly to private flying in some European countries, it is interesting to note that there is a tendency to revise these restrictions in certain districts on the N.W. frontier of India. Practically the entire N.W. boundary comes under this category, but, in order to allow civil aircraft to fly as far as Quetta and other districts in Baluchistan, areas previously prohibited have been opened up for this purpose. The value of aircraft was well demonstrated during the great earthquake in Bihar last year. When this occurred it so happened that one of the machines belonging to India Air Pageants, Ltd., which organisation, incidentally, did a good deal to popularise flying in India, was at Patna. The pilot in charge immediately volunteered to fly over the area of destruction, as all rail, road and telegraphic com munication with the three districts affected were destroyed. By this means photographs were taken and preliminary reports made available within a few hours, enabling the Bihar Government to assess the damage caused. Had it not been for the fact that aircraft were available, the isolation of the whole affected area would have continued for days and in some parts for weeks. During this terrible period many reconnaissance flights were carried out. His Excellency the Governor and other high officials were able to visit the towns which were cut off, confer with the local authorities on questions of relief and return to headquarters on the same day.
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