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Aviation History
1946
1946 - 2190.PDF
482 "'6 CIVIL AVIATION NEWS , THE FIVE HUNDRED DAYS SIR WILLIAM P. HILDRED, director-generalof the International Air Transport Associa- tion, made his first annual report at the openingsession ol the annual general meeting of the Association in Cairo on October 29th. In thecourse oi a comprehensive survey of the status ol international air transport during the post-warperiod. Sir William drew attention to the great expansion in that period. The prfesent joo,000-mile network of international air routes was more than double the mileage which existed before thewar, and because of the airlines' record of per- formance, he continued, the five hundred dayssince the end of hostilities may eventually be known as the most splendid days in the historyof international air transport. Sir William pointed out that the airlines, morethan any other agency of transport, were relied upon by the nations for the swift exchange ofinformation, vital commodities, and brains, and he was happy to be able to report the success with whichinternational airlines had met the challenge presented by the necessities of reconstruction. Many new com-panies had joined the roster of operators, and many European services which had been virtually destroyed by thewar were now restored; in fact, many European companies jhad been able to reconstitute old routes and add new.' Making special reference to the. Atlantic, he observed that eight nations were now flying regular schedules acioss theNorth Atlantic, and several more were making proving flights prepaiatory to permanent operations. The South Atlanticroute had also been restored, and even extended. Sir William made the interesting observation that whereas traffic in . passengers, freight and air mail had increased during the past MIXMASTER IN MINIATURE : Distinctly unorthodox is the layout ofthe four-seater cabin aircraft now being developed by the Waco Aircraft Corporation. Apart from the use of a 'shaft-driven airscrew in the tail,the Aristocraft, as it is to be called, will have a simplified control system. year to greater than pre-war levels, the individual airline fleettonnages had not grown in proportion. This meant, he said, that the airlines were getting more use from their aircraftnow than ever before, in hours and carrying capacity, not only from the newer aircraft with longer range, higher speed andlarger payload, but also from the very aircraft which had been operated before the war. Sir WTilliam paid a tribute to the Governments which hadcontributed to the restoration of landing fields, navigational aids, control systems and the like, which formed the under-structure of international airways. "Many fields," he said, " still bear the marks and limitations of war, but more andmore reports reach us each week of restoration and improve- ment in these matters." BREVITIES J The B.O.A.C./Qautas Lancastrian service between Londonand Sydney has now completed two hundred flights each,vay on this, the longest and fastest air route in the world. The winter schedule has now started and involves' two additional stops—at Calcutta and Castel Benito. * * * frans-Canada Airlines have started a daily service withLockheed Lodestars between Fort William and Duluth in the ireat Lakes area. The first trajjs-continental crossing hasbeen made in both directions by T.C.A., with Merlin Sky- masters, between Montreal and Vancouver. It is understoodthat T.C.A. have cancelled orders for Tudor aircraft, owing to a promised earlier delivery of DC-4s from Canadair. * • * A new folder, entitled "Going by Air," and containing -useful information for inexperienced air travellers, has been ./issued by the Liverpool & London & Globe Insurance Com- pany. The folder contains a diagram giving changes in times in different parts of the world, useful hints, and a note of the various forms of aviation insurance now available for pas- sengers, baggage and goods. * * • / British European Airways have carried out a Viking S proving flight to Madrid and Lisbon. * * » Capt. Nils Steen, a Norwegian pilot, has been presented/with the Honorary O.B.E., in recognition of his valuable * services as a pilot on the wartime air route between GreatBritain and Stockholm. * * * I B.S.A.A. are being forced to vary the route from the U.K. "Mo Central America owing to recent bad weather in the Azores. The route is sometimes through Prestwick and Gander, and at other times through Dakar and Natal.j K.L.M now have several- Douglas DC-4 aircraft based atGuraco. The purpose of this is to link the West Indies with New York, and so give a direct service from Amsterdamby K.L.M. The company have not fifth freedom rights in New York. oduction lirSeveral D.H. Doves off the productio line have now been delivered to operators. Skyways took delivery of theirs quiterecently, and this aircraft is perhaps the first one to be actually carrying fare-paying passengers.# * • An agreement has been signed between Britain and Portugalproviding for air services between British and Portuguese territories. •/ # # * Aer Lingus expect to extend their services rapidly duringthe next few months, in addition to the Constellation trans- Atlantic service which should come into operation next year.Pilots and ground personnel are now in/training in Britain on Viking aircraft, which will be usedr on the routes fromShannon. Scheduled services are to be flown to London, Stock- holm, Rome and Madrid. Early in the new year there will alsobe a service to Glasgow and a triangular route to Belfast and Liverpool. » . fThe Howard Hughes all-wood flying-boat is reported to tie nearing completion at Long Beach, California. The eigWt*3,000 h.p. engines are now installed^Tnd taxying tests are expected to start during November. * # * * Gateacre Hall, situated about fifteen minutes by road fromSpeke Airport, is to be opened as Residential club by Airport Services Catering, Ltd., to provide amenities for crews andpassengers passing through the airport. Air France will be transferring activitialf from Croydon toHeathrow during November. Heathro\^has been chosen in preference to Northolt as Air France aircraft are fitted withSCS.51, which is being installed at London Airport B.E.A. will continue to handle Air France traffic. It is understood that Bovingdon is to be jcfiicially recognizedas a diversion airport far Northolt, and ofay at times be used as an alternative by B.E.A. for reason? other than weather.Manston may also be used for diversions, but no outward services will be flown from either. •
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