FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Atlas
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
1937
1937 - 1482.PDF
560 FLIGHT. JUNE 3, 1937. Commercial Aviation to have any obsolete labels in stock are the companes that issued them. Early last week I met Mr. J. N. Bamford on the way back from Paris looking pleased with life, as well he might, having just received the Cross of the Chevalier of the Legion of Honour after seventeen years' valuable service as London manager for Air France and its predecessors, Air Union and Messageries Aeriennes. M. Bouderie, Croy don manager for Air France, and one of the men, if not the man, with the longest record of service to commercial aviation, was decorated with the same honour some years HAVING discussed and examined fully the Maybury Report, the Aerodrome Owners' Association has issued a memorandum for the attention of the Secretary of State for Air. There is confirmation of the Associa tion's pre-report assumption that aerodromes were sufficiently important to merit Government attention. Eight of the seventeen recommendations in the Report deal with aero dromes and owners, and the Association is in agreement with these recommendations which, however, if acted upon would entail further expenditure. The Association believes that the Maybury Committee was mistaken in not recommending State financial assistance. Aerodromes, it maintains, are of national importance, and it is in the interests of the country that they should be maintained at the proper standard for air transport services. At the present time a number of municipalities and private enterprises have established aerodromes, and some are maintained at higher standards than others. The Association leels that no substantial increase in numbers or frequency of aerial transport can be hoped for until the demand for better facilities is met, and this means more expenditure. Municipal enthusiasm and consciousness of the necessity for aerodromes have been awakened by Air Ministry propaganda, but the time has come when this enthusiasm is definitely on the wane due chiefly to the relatively heavy financial burden born by the owners. Some partly completed schemes are not proceeding, and one or two are definitely abandoned. Aerodrome owners to-day are confronted with a choice of three courses—to stabilise the annual expenditure at the present figure, to cut their annual expenditure down or to embark on still further expenditure to improve and provide the necessary facilities. The Association believes that con tinued interest from the municipalities and other bodies upon which depends the correct maintenance of the aerodromes can only be assured by relieving the financial burden by direct aid from the State. This, it is thought, would be the most economical means of assistance, and would give the maximum of benefit to the owners. It is felt that so far the owners have been called upon to provide more than their quota, and no reasonable return was being received or is likely to be received for several years. Brighton-Jersey O N Monday the new Jersey-Shoreham and Jersey-Exeter services were opened when a Jersey Airways D.H.86 made the crossing to Shoreham and a D.H.89 to Exeter. The services will run every day except Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday (in the case of the Exeter run). Pigs May Fly A FEW months ago details were given in Flight of a new -£*- freight company which was about to start operations in Australia—Southern Airlines and Freighters, Ltd. It is hard for us to believe that the centre of Australia is not all sand, but there, primarily, the new company will operate and carry the wool, sheep, cattle (and even pigs!) from this area to the railheads. Qantas and the Flying Doctor services have already shown what the aeroplane really means to Central Australia, and the company will urge graziers to make their own landing-fields of two crossed runways each 1,000 yards by 100 yards. Three Junkers Ju.52 and four Ju.86 machines are the initial fleet, all powered with Junkers Jumo diesels. The estimated annual freight is 16,000 tons, and is. per ton-mile is the charge. back—partly, I believe, for military services and partly for services to civil aviation—so everybody in Air France is happy. As for the rest of the old gang, serving various British or foreign companies, they keep smiling, too, leav ing an optimistic vacant space on the chest when the invita tions says "medals and decorations." When questioned they remark (like Mr. Sam Weller about his job) '' Plenty to do and werry little to get/' but I notice none of them wants to change his job for anything outside civil aviation, even if the other job has more money attached to it. A. VIATOR. The Association desires to assure the Secretary of State that, contrary to the impression given by the Maybury Re port, there was urgent need for the granting of financial aid to the aerodromes. A sum of ^150,000 is suggested, with a division of aerodromes into A, B and C classes for varying annual grants. Most aerodromes would come in the B class at a suggested figure of ^2,500. This provision would assure efficient operation and provision of all -facilities. • ' After further stressing the need for financial aid the Asso ciation asks that recommendation H of the Maybury Com mittee with regard to the provision of radio and meteorological facilities should be extended to the installation of ground lighting and similar equipment for aerodromes serving a popu lation of over 100,000 in a 15-mile radius. This would allow 24-hour operation under all weather conditions. Cheaper equipment would be obtained with bulk orders. The Asso ciation thinks, with regard to recommendations D, E and F, that the monopoly licensing of air transport companies would be against the best interests of air transport and would mean a reduced revenue for an aerodrome owner. While objecting to the licensing of air transport companies as recommended by the Maybury Committee, the Association favours their licensing in regard to safety and efficiency of operation, and asks for representation on any licensed authority which may be set up. A complete schedule of standard aerodrome fees and charges has been drawn up and has been submitted to the Air Ministry. These fees are not based on the Maybury .Report, and will not cover the owner for the use of the aerodrome, but are thought to be the limit which can be borne at present by existing air transport companies. The charges may need to be increased with the establishment of monopoly companies. At an interview granted by the Secretary of State to a deputation representing the Association, Viscount Swinton made it clear that the Cabinet had accepted the main recom mendations of the Maybury Committee. The system of licensing was proposed to eliminate wasteful competition and provide the best conditions for development for civil aviation. He could hold out no hope, of direct financial assistance to individual aerodromes. As road distances are slightly longer, and as the saving in time is considerable, this figure will compare favourably with 7d. or gd. per ton-mile charged for road transport. " Passenger and urgent freight services will also be run on a direct route between Adelaide and Sydney, providing a connection between the mail boats at Perth and the Empire flying-boat terminus at Sydney. A double feeder-line between Hay and Melbourne joins this, and should provide quick transport to each of the three capitals for dwellers in Victoria and the Riverina. The technical man on the directorate is Mr. I. H. Grabowsky, who was previously with that very successful air-freight company, Guinea Airways, as pilot and general manager. V.H.F. in Australia AN experimental Lorenz approach beacon installed at Essenden has given such good results that the Civil Aviation Board of Australia has decided to use this type at all the main airports. They are to be provided at Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney, Launceston, Brisbane, Kempsey, Nhill, Adelaide and Hobart. In addition, three D/F stations are to be built at Cooktown. Port Moresby and Salamaua. A total of J£I20,000 is to be spent on this and other wireless services. SUBSIDISED AERODROMES ? The Aerodrome Owners' Association Criticise the Maybury Report
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
