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Aviation History
1938
1938 - 0226.PDF
FLIGHT. JANUARY 27, 1938. Airports Conference Papers .is?. NTERNAL AIR-ROUTE RATIONALISATION Some Detailed Suggestions jor Putting Britain's Home Air Routes on a New Basiik WHEN aviation was firstconsidered as a possiblemethod of serious civil transport, it was at once obvious that there would be a problem involving two main factors—the operation of the air- craft themselves and the provi- sion of the ground organisation. There was a danger of a vicious circle being set up, in that air transport would not develop, through lack of aero- drome facilities ; and that aero- dromes would not be provided owing to lack of air transport demand It was obvious that whereas an aerodrome could exist, even if unused, an aeroplane could not fly unless it had aerodromes from which to operate. Conse- quently, in spite ol the desir- ability of aerodromes and air- craft operation developing side by side, it was necessary for the aerodrome to be first, and always slightly ahead of the aircraft operator. A Campaign And so the authorities, the Directorate of Civil Aviation at the Air Ministry, initiated a campaign ior aerodromes, aero- dromes everywhere, more and more aerodromes. The cam- paign reached its climax in the mass meeting held at the Man- sion House in London in 192a,, addressed by H.R.H. the Prince of Wales. By this time considerable progress had been made. A number of municipal and private aerodromes had been established. In the years immediately following there were consider- able signs of life in the sphere of aircraft operation. Numerous companies were formed and a number of air services were inaugurated. Their history has, on the whole, been a sad one. Many were under-capitalised, the personnel were lacking in experi- ence, the aircraft used were unsuitable, and the complete lack of navigational aids made regularity or punctuality impossible. The travelling public were not "ready," and in the majority of cases the methods of airline operation did little to create confidence in this new method of travel. It was a period of the survival of the fittest. These years were useful, however, in providing experi- ence and in teaching many lessons. Among them was the fact that organisation and complete navigational aid were necessary if air transport within the United Kingdom was to be enabled to operate in a manner that would be useful to the public and would earn their confidence. Aero- dromes had to be bigger and better equipped ; lighting equipment was necessary for night and emergency land- ings ; ground-to-air communication with wireless, and By R. ASHLEY HALLr HE author of this Paper, read ai the Conference last Thursday, knows his subject from the view- point of an airport administrator, an ofliiial of the Aerodrome Owners' Association, a flying club official, and a pilot. In presenting his Paper to the Conference, Councillor Ashley Hall submitted the following resolution : "The A.O.A. reques: that H.M. Government shall re-consider the following recommendations in the Maybiiry Commitiet Report:—Paragraph 124 dealing with financialassistance to aircraft operators. Paragraph 100 dealing with financial assistance to aerodromes, and paragragh 128.and the suggestions as to a limitation 0) tha main air routes under the '' 'unction plan." In the Paper he proceeds to detail a bold, com- prehensive scheme for the reorganisation of Britain's internal airlines—a scheme which would call for, and justify, a Government subsidy for both aircraft and aerodrome operators. The Paper (originally entitled " Organisation oj Air Transport in Great Britain ") has been very slighQv abbreviated for publication here, and the appendix has been summarised in the form of a map ground control by specially trained personnel capable of giving guidance and assistance to aircraft in all weathers, was essential; the control of traffic on busy air routes and the pro- vision of greatly enhanced meteorological services was also necessary. In other words, a consider- able and general improvement in ground organisation was an essential. The improvements necessary were designated in de- tail in the Maybury Committee Report published in January, 1937. New Stage The recommendations ' mad<?', are in the process of being intro-. duced, and one can say that in 1938 the aerodrome ground organisation, wireless, etc., posi- tion within the United Kingdom will be on a basis sufficiently satisfactory and efficient to support the operation of a serious system 0/ internal air- lines . So now we must look forward to lurther development, and the form that this should take is also covered in the Maybury Report. But. unfortunately, there seems room tor considerable criticisms as to the efficacy of their sug- gestions Their recommenda- tions as to the air routes and their operation are rather liks the curates egg ; so rather than criticise and suggest revisions it would be better to propound what, in my opinion, should be certain guiding principles from which, perhaps, a new egg can be hatched. The principles which should be borne in mind when con- sidering air transport within the United Kingdom are: — (a) Before anything useful can be accomplished it must gain the confidence of the public To do this it must be: (i) regular and punctual, (ii) free from accidents, (iii) com- fortable. Aids to these ends are to be provided by the ground organisation as recommended by the Maybury Report. As regards aircaft, the obvious requirements are specially trained personnel ; up-to-date multi-engivud machines with a crew of never fewer than two and equipped with efficient heating and ventilation and always with a lavatory ; and it is agreed that a steward or stewardess serving refreshments is a considerable moral comfort. (b) Airlines must create new movement and not attempt to compete with other methods of transport. For example,.:, the movement to-day is comparatively small from the ; south-west, through Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire. Northamptonshire and to Norfolk, etc., because the exist- ing means of travel are inconvenient. A convenient method of communication provided by air transport should create new movement.
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