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Aviation History
1939
1939 - 0216.PDF
90 FLIGHT. JANUARY 2b, 1939 Commercial Aviation VOICING OBJECTIONS International Air-route Operators Appear Before the Licensing Authority THE hearing of oppositions to applications for licences to operate internal air routes is now in full swing. Last Friday the claims of North-Eastern Airways were heard by the Air Transport Licensing Authority at Caxton Hall, Westminster, London. They were opposed by Railway Air Services. In giving evidence on behalf of R.A.S., Sir Harold Hartley, chairman, and Mr. Reade, assistant to the, chief commercial manager of the L.M.S.,, stated that the aim of Railway Air Services was to avoid uneconomic competition, and that they objected to N.E.A. " trespassing on their terri tory," which they considered to be west of the Pennines. Mr. Trustram Eve, chairman of the A.T.L.A., suggested that the L.M.S. might do as other railways and form a localised com pany. To this Sir Harold Hartley replied that if they dis solved Railway Air Services they would lose the advantage of being associated with Imperial Airways. The non-stop London-Glasgow service was the bone of contention. The next public hearing will be held on January 30. In Scotland, the A.T.L.A. held its first sitting on Monday of last week, the tribunal being composed of Mr. Trustram Eve (chairman), Sir Frederick Sykes and the Hon. H. L. Parker. The application by Scottish Airways was heard in the Scottish Land Court in Edinburgh, and it was opposed by Allied Airways and North-Eastern Airways. Mr. Gilbert Woodward, for Scottish Airways, said that the company sought licences to operate services between Inverness and Shet land, with intermediate landings at Wick and Kirkwall ; between Aberdeen and Shetland, with intermediate landings at the same places ; between Glasgow and Inverness, with intermediate landings at Perth ; between Aberdeen and Stornoway, with intermediate landings at Inverness ; Aber deen-Shetland direct ; and " on demand " services between The Bermuda Accident ONE of the most dramatic rescues (and that over-worked term can be used with real justification) in the history of commercial aviation took place last week when the Imperial Airways Short boat Cavalier, flying on the Bermuda service, was forced down on to a rough sea by ice formation, 150 miles from Bermuda. She was commanded by Capt. M. R. Alderson, with First Officer Neil Richardson. Cavalier had left her base at Long Island, N.Y., at 10.30 a.m. on Saturday. At T2.23, she wirelessed: " Running into bad weather. May have to land." At 12.27 came another message: " Still in bad weather. Severe static." In the next fifteen minutes Port Washington tried three times to contact Cavalier, but unsuccessfully. At 12.57 hex radio operator, Patrick Chapman, sent out an SOS. Two minutes latei she reported : '' All engines failing through ice Altitude 1,500ft. Forced landing in a few minutes." Eight minutes later he said that she was still up, had two engines running and that the pilot was trying to get the others started. Four minutes later, however, a series of messages announced that she was down. Her last message, at Jt.iju was a single word, " Sinking." Rescue measures were put in hand immediately. Port Washington ordered the Pan American Bermuda Clipper to search and also invoked the aid of the U.S. Coastguard flying- boats, together with Boeing bombers from Langley Field, Vir ginia. Othei landplanes and flying-boats also went out, but a number were forced to return by bad weather and by oncoming darkness. A general alarm message had also been sent out to surface vessels and a number of craft were soon hurrying to Cavalier's assistance. Although the fact is not quoted in any of the re ports, it may be assumed that her crew were able to give an accurate idea of her position. The tanker Esso Baytown- was the first vessel to reach the scene of the accident and by mid night was able to report that she had picked up ten of the thirteen persons on board. Apparently they had been found clinging to " lifebelts "—presumably the Moseley life-saving seat cushions. Three people, two passengers and the steward, Robert Spencc, had succumbed. Later reports said that Cavalier, which had been holed, sank 10 to 15 minutes after putting down. All the survivors suffered in varying degrees from shock and exposure and Capt. Alderson was said to be in a serious con dition. The mishap will undoubtedly teach valuable lessons, though it is a great pity that they must be learned even at the expense ot three lives. The message about engine failure Kirkwall, Longhope, Westray, North Ronaldsay, Sanday, Stronsay, and Kirkwall-Wick. Mr. Woodward read a memorandum recalling the merging of Northern and Scottish Airways and Highland Airways into Scottish Airways, the purpose being to co-ordinate the air interests of, these companies with the land interests of the L.M.S. and the marine interests of David MacBrayne, Ltd. Scottish Airways operated regular services to and from 13 aerodromes on the mainland and in the Orkneys and Shetlands, and on behalf of Western Isles Airways they operated regular services to another seven aerodromes in the Western Isles. Allied Airways had prevented them from providing facilities at Thurso, and thought themselves entitled to a monopoly. Mr. Eric Blain, for Allied Airways, called attention to the large amount of money that company had spent at Dyce. They were willing, if the companies got separate licences, to throw Dyce open to other operators. They felt themselves entitled to first consideration in connection with the direct Aberdeen-Shetland service, on which they had operated not only in summer, but through two winters, and they held the Shetland air mail contract. At the resumed hearing the next day Capt. E. E. Fresson, for Scottish Airways, said he did not think a direct service between Aberdeen and Shetland by another company was necessary. On the third day of the hearing the A.T.L.A. intimated that they did not think there should be a monopoly on routes north to Inverness and Aberdeen. They thought a case had been made out for granting licences to both Scottish Airways and Allied Airways. It was, however, desired to obtain the views of the Postmaster-General, whose requirements might affect the decision. through ice formation arouses curiosity in view of the fact that Cavalier's carburetters, like those of her sisters, had heated in take muffs. Whether her airscrews had slinger rings cannot at present be ascertained. Airports Convention TWO papers will be read at the fifth annual Airports Con ference, to be held at the Central Hall, Westminster, during the first three days of February. One, dealing with the qualifications and duties of airport managers, is to be read by Captain H. J. Andrews, manager of Liverpool airport; the other, setting out the procedure to be followed in estab lishing an airport, with particular reference to municipal enter prise, will be given by Mr. F. Greenwood, the engineer respon sible for development of Elmdon (Birmingham). Some 150 delegates, including representatives of thirty-four municipal authorities from all parts of the British Isles, have been nominated to attend the conference. They will hear and discuss the report of action taken by the Aerodrome Owners' Association during the past eventful year. The agenda will include the negotiations with the Air Ministry over the use of civil aerodromes for Reserve school training; the agreement of a scale of standardised landing and other fees; the part played by aerodrome owners in relation to the Civil Air Guard scheme; and the first steps towards setting up the international aerodromes organisation initiated at the conference in Berlin last June. The conference and its associated exhibition—at which there are fifty-three exhibitors—will be formally opened by Sir Kingsley Wood at 10.30 a.m. on February 1. Lord London derry, President of the Aerodrome Owners' Association, will preside over the conference. He will also be in the Chair at the annual banquet of the A.O.A. on the evening of Feb ruary 1, when the chief guest will be Captain H. H. Balfour, Under-Secretary of State for Air. The exhibition at the Central Hall, Westminster, will not be open to the general public, but trade tickets are obtainable from the Aerodrome Owners' Association at 32, Savtle Row, London, W.i. Mr. H. H. Greig MR. H. H. GREIG announces his resignation from the post of maintenance manager to Jerseys Airways, Ltd., as from February 18 next. He has occupied the post since he joined the company in February, 1935. AH letters written to him after January 30 should be addressed: " C/o F. Trodd, Esq., 57, Ethelburt Avenue, Swaythling, Southampton."
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