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Aviation History
1946
1946 - 1495.PDF
AUGUST IST, 1946 FLIGHT CIVIL AVIATION NEWS to to the the assistance European BRITISH EUROPEAN PLANSs/S IR HAROLD HARTLEY, chairmandesignate of B.E.A.C, held a Press conference on Friday, July 26th, in theroom which will soon be his office. The office, in the building which will eventu-ally house the administrative section of the new Corporation, is in Bourne School—evacuated during the war owing to its *YJximity to Northolt Airfield. There has en criticism that an airline should haveousted a school, but in the circumstances it would be quite impossible for a schoolto function in that position, just off the end of one of the main runways. SirHarold and his staff are not to be envied, for telephone conversations on days withan easterly wind are likely to resemble R/T conversation in the middle of athunderstorm. The interior of the building isdecorated in the airline colours of light grey and red—very attractive for walls,picnic boxes and B.E.A. girls, but we understand that the aircrew have raisedobjections to being dressed in this par- ticular colour scheme. Sir Harold paid a striking tributegiven by all branches of B.O.A.C. Division during its gradual formation and assumption ofresponsibilities. Recruits had come from all sections of the community and he disclosed that 32.9 per cent were fromthe R.A.F. The importance of the Mediterranean was appreciated bythe Corporation and in this connection the Italian agreement was a step in the right direction. It was interesting to hearthat a special department had been created .within the Cor- poration to enquire into the means of utilizing the progressin the use of radar as far as civil flying is concerned. Although it was the Ministry's responsibility to provide control systemsfor bad weather and avoiding, congestion, this was receiving particular attention by B.E.A., as it was so necessary to theefficient and safe conduct of all air travel. On the subject of aircraft and routes, it was estimatedthat fifty routes would be covered by the spring. Internal routes would be flown with Dakotas as these were replacedon the Continental routes by the Vikings, of which fifty would be, it is hoped, in service by April ist. Ultimately, of course,all services will be flown with British aircraft. There was no " bogy " about the Viking, the chairman said,and he explained the reasons for the rumours which had circu- lated recently. The temporary, grounding of the type wasquite a local action at the training school, where it had been found that an over-zealous mechanic had stripped a threadon a petrol union. Sir Harold aims to provide a British airline service combiningsafety, regularity and punctuality—which were what the pub- lic demanded. CONSTELLATION CONSTERNATIONS ''THERE was a momentary crisis in some circles last week•*• when it was reported that the Civil Aeronautics Board had called upon the Lockheed Aircraft Company and fourother firms to show why the Constellation airliners should not be removed from service permanently. Obviously, the state-ment could not be accepted at its face value, and it soon be- t'asnp. evident that this apparently very drastic move had beenmgKle \o meet the regulations which limit the period of suspen- sion of certificates by the Civil Aeronautics Board to thirtydays. At the expiration of that time certificates of airworthi- ness aie revoked, and until the aircraft can be satisfactorilymodified, a new certificate is not issued. It is understood that the modifications necessary in this case are not likelyto present any difficulties, and as soon as they are completed a new application will be made. It has been hinted that theConstellations might be expected to he back in service by the middle of September. An interesting revelation is the news that while it is intendedto fit the Constellations with a fuel injection system, there is 110 necessity for that to be completed before they go back intoservice again, and these modifications will be made during the course of the next few months. This is a result of the finding THE FIRST SATURN : To be considered as the logical successor to the Lockheed 14and Hudson, the prototype Saturn has recently made its first test flight. It is a 14-passenger type, of medium range, and is intended for branch-line service. that the accident in Pennsylvania was not connected in anyway with engine trouble. The only B.O.A.C. Constellation grounded on this side ofthe Atlantic has been flown back to America for modification. By the time this appears in print, it is probable that theC.A.B. will have announced the changes which will be required before the Constellations can return to service. According tothe air correspondent of a New York newspaper, the modi- fications include the complete re-wiring of the electric installa-tions; the overhaul of the hydraulic, fire detection and fire extinguishing systems; a check of the fire-resisting qualitiesof the interior furnishings; and the installation of bulkheads and doors between the various sections of the fuselage. MARINE TERMINAL ^'I T is understood that the Committee which has been study-ing the question of a permanent flying-boat base in this country has completed its report. This has now reached theMinister of Civil Aviation, but it may be some little time before this report and the findings are made available to thepublic. SOUTH AFRICAN INCREASE ^ '"PHE "Springbok" service between London and Johannes--*• burg is now running four times a week in each direction. Passages to South Africa are still in great demand, but it isunderstood that the waiting list is steadily diminishing. The extra York a week will, in fact, assist to the extent of providingseats each way for only six passengers of the non-priority "commercial" category. The Yorks in use on this route—which, incidentally, is run jointly by B.O.A.C. snd South African Airways, the latter being responsible for crews andservicing south of Nairobi—are passenger-cum-freighi aircraft, and are each carrying twelve passengers and three tons of mailand freight. The other six passengers on each aircraft are Government sponsored. ARGENTINE ORDERS " FREIGHTER-WA YFARERS '*"' T7IFTEEN Bristol 170s have recently been ordered by the -F Argentine Aeronautical Purchasing Committee. Deliveries are to be started very shortly and should be completed early in 1947- These 170s will be "combination" types, in which bothfreight and passengers will be accommodated. The former will, of course, be carried in the nose and loaded through thespecial doors, while there will be, behind the bulkhead, seat- ing accommodation for sixteen passengers.The contract, which is the first major post-war (irder to be received from abroad by Bristol's, was the direct result of theexploration of the South American market made recently by Iht- Company's sales director, Capt. K. J. Bartlett. Incidentally,a Freighter-type 170 is due to leave during this month for a demonstration tour of North and South America.
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