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Aviation History
1937
1937 - 0742.PDF
286 FLIGHT. MARCH 18, 1937. (OMMERCIAL J^/IATION AIRLINES AIRPORTS JERSEY'S AIRPORT : A sunny impres sion of the well-planned terminal building of Jersey's new airport, with a Jersey Airways' D.H. 86 in the foreground. The airport was officially opened on Wednes day of last week. (Flight photograph.) THE WEEK AT CROYDON Weather or No : De-icers : Confession : Another " Replacement" : Emergency Airport ONE day last week there was an outbreak of uninformed criticism because on a certain day, it was alleged, Imperial Airways cancelled for ice-formation, whereas all ether companies flew as usual. Ice for mation is a tricky subject for any lay journalist, for there are so very many points a pilot has to consider, and a cancellation or decision to start is an individual matter. The story was that all the foreign machines which started did so because they were fitted with de-icing equipment, whereas Imperial machines could not leave because they were not. Actually the facts are far otherwise, and I doubt if a single foreign machine which left that day was com pletely equipped, though it is true that firms such as Air France and K.L.M. have a few machines so fitted. The whole thing was a matter of the particular route covered and the particular time of the service. Later, conditions improved and the foreign machines left. In their eager ness to blame Imperials the newspapers concerned failed to mention that the Imperial mid-day service ran and was duplicated. A little time ago the boot was on the other foot, and certain routes not flown by Imperials were impos sible, whereas all their services were operat ing as usual. Talking about de-icers, I am told by both French and Dutch pilots that the equipment is eminently satisfactory and that the peril of ice formation would be non-existent if all machines had it. If that is so, why aren't all machines so fitted? It is bad luck for Irish Sea Airways that Baldonnel has been under snow for such a long time. Rumour went round Croydon on Saturday to the effect that there was tremendous activity in the Olley hangar, where skis were being fitted to machines for the Irish service. It looks as though British Airways have come to Croydon for good. Mr. Campbell- Orde arrived from Scandinavia by K.L.M. last week and has been seen around Croy don on most days since, and both Mr. Banks and Mr. Higgins have settled nicely into their old Croydon groove. Capt. Mac intosh, also of B.A., is an old Croydonian who has returned to the fold. He used to be known as "All-weather Macintosh." There are no special "all-weather pilots" these days. People have acquired wisdom. The early morning newspaper traffic to various continental cities steadily increases year by year, and, for example, the Amsterdam machine regularly carries a weight equivalent to five passengers or so. The habit of reading English newspapers at the breakfast table has developed with the growth of air transport, and for this export trade we have to thank the fact that linguistically, at any rate, the average foreigner is better educated than our own nationals. By comparison, far fewer foreign periodicals are sent over here either by air or by surface transport. There is not a single office now to be had anywhere in the terminal building, and many firms need extra accommo dation. The fact that more offices were badly needed was pointed out to the authorities a year or two ago, and the usual steps have been taken. As far as one can ascertain there is not even an expansion scheme on paper, though this may be a libel and a marvellous scheme may exist, and may continue to exist indefinitely, on paper. The efficiency of those who deal with such matters is best illus trated, without comment, by their actions, or lack of them. Some two or three years ago the roof above one of our corridors sprang a leak. Water collected above the ceiling and seeped through. Their remedy was to bore four or five large holes in the ceiling. Water then poured on to a con crete floor and was kept under control by men with mops. These holes in the veiling are still there, and, whilst traffic prevents stalagmites from forming, a lovely crop of stalactites is said to be forming on the ceiling. There is much excitement about a new airport at Lulling- stone, Kent, which is to replace Croydon. We have heard
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