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Aviation History
1946
1946 - 0709.PDF
APRIL HTH, 1946 r RISING GROUNDT HERE has for many years been justifiable doubt about Croydon's continued usefulness as an airport. Nevertheless, it operated consistently as the main airport for London until the outbreak of war, and, since hostilities ceased, it has again become an important air ter- minal for London. Further, until such a time as the ser- vices at present operating there can be absorbed by some other London airport, there is little doubt that Croydon will continue to fulfil an extremely useful function. How- ever, the type of traffic which can use it must always be limited by the facts that the maximum runway length is only 1,250 yards, and that the airfield is as badly located, according to modern standards, as it could be. In spite of these difficulties, the volume of traffic handled at Croydon is very con- siderable. Transport Command still run services all over the Continent from the air- irt. In addition, the following Continen- airline companies, internal airlines and charter companies are using the airport daily: — Continental Operators: K.L.M., Air France, Swedish A.B.A., Swissair and S.A.B.E.N.A. Internal Airlines and Charter Services:Aei Lingus, .Railway Air Services, West Coast Air Services, Channel Islands Air-ways, Morton Air Services, Air Taxis, Ltd., British American Air Services. Some idea of the present intensity of the traffic can be gauged from the fact that, during March, when weather and airfield •unserviceability were so bad as to make airline operation at Croydon almost impossible for a week, the aircraft move- 1. Two Dakotas and a Bloch 221 lined upon the tarmac outside the airport building. 2. Flying Control is still manned by R.A.Fpersonnel. The Deputy Air Traffic Con- troller is seen in charge. 3. Swedish A.B.A. Dakota, Air FranceBloch and K.L.M. Dakota, and a B.O.A.C York about to taxi on a test flight. 4. Internal airline and charter operatorsRapides belonging to Channel Islands Airways and Air Taxis, Ltd., with a Morton Air Services Auster in the background. 8. Passengers who have been cleared byCustoms, depart by coach for London, ments undertaken by these operators totalled 1,119, and they handled 8,151 passengers and 216,7691b of Ireight. In addition, there were a total of 377 movements ot Transport Command aircraft. The general administration ol the airport is the respon- sibility of the Ministry of Civil Aviation, but traffic handling arrangements for most ot the airline companies is under- taken by B.O.A.C. Certain specialist facilities such as flying control and telecommunications are still the respon- sibility of the R.A.F. C. S. W.
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