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Aviation History
1948
1948 - 1929.PDF
JNOVKMBER l8TH, I948 FLIGHT 595 CIVI More Power for Tudors: LC.A.O. Vacancies: Radar Meteorology. FUTURE ASCENDANCY : An artist's impression of the Bristol 175, twenty-five of which it is announced that B.O.A.C. are proposing to order. Their long- term plans envisage the operation of these types in 1953-54 ; BRISTOL 175s PROPOSED FOR B.O.A.C. "PROPOSALS that a- production order should be placed forA 25 Bristol 175 aircraft have been announced by B.O.A.C. '. In its latest form the Bristol 175 represents a great advanceon the M.R.E. specification evolved by B.O.A.C. in 1947. The aircraft is planned so that Bristol Centaurus piston engines••; sor Bristol Proteus airscrew turbines may be fitted, the design _A allowing for easy interchangeability. Comparison with the:% performance of the Lockheed Constellation indicates that if fitted with the Centaurus piston engines the Bristol 175 would. have performance superior to that of this American aircraft. When fitted with the Proteus airscrew turbines the cruisingspeed of the Bristol 175 is expected to be at least 75 m.p.h. higher than that of the Constellation. Advantages of theProteus airscrew turbine would be the great increase in passenger comfort due to the reduction of noise and vibrationand, since the Proteus operates on kerosene rather than aviation petrol, increased safety would result from a reductionof fire hazard. Canin lay-outs now under consideration •;•- include a 38-passenger sleeper version for use on the longestroutes and a 60-passenger version which would provide a standard of comfort comparable with the Constellation. Asan alternative, the Bristol r75 could be adapted to carry over 70 passengers, though the conditions would be more austereand these aircraft might be used to fly passengers at reduced lares. Accotding to the present proposals the aircraft isscheduled to be in operation 011 the medium range Empire routes in 1953-54. In making this decision B.G.A.C. havebeen anxious to take full advantage, in a practical form, of the lead which this country has over other countries in thedevelopment of airscrew turbines for aircraft. STRATOCRUISER ALL-UP WEIGHT 4/^ERTIFICATION of the Boeing Stratocruiser by the U.S." v> Civil Aeronautics Administration for a gross weight o( 142,500 1b has been announced by the Boeing Airplane Com-pany. During certification tests and manufacturer's trials over 700 hours have been flown. The sew gross weight is7,500 1b more than the figure originally guaranteed and thr plan has been approved for a design useful load of over 30 tons.The cabin air conditioning svstem has made possible an approved altitude of 25,000ft, at which height cabin pressureis equal to that at an altitude of 5,500ft. B.O.A.C., S.A.S.. and four U.S. airlines have ordered Stratocruisers. MERSEY ACCIDENTO N the night of Novembei 1 ith a D.H. Rapide, flying fromDublin to the Isle of Man, was, on account of fog, diverted to Speke after circling Ronaldsway for 40 minutes. Whenapproaching Speke from the Mersey the aircraft's fuel became Exhausted and it fell into the Mersey causing a loss of sevenlives. The pilot was Capt. J. C. Higgins, who had very extensive experience of this route, having flown Rapides to 11 0 and from the Isle of Man lor some 14 years. Capt. Higginspreviously flew with B.E.A. and it was at the end of May this year that he terminated his service with the Corporation tostart Mannin Airways, owners of the aircraft, of which he was managing director. Of the eight occupants of the aircraft,six passengers and a crew of two, only one passenger survived. B.EA. GROUND ENGINEERS STRIKE ON the grounds that an -incentive bonus scheme would beunfair to them, some B.E.A. ground engineers commenced an unofficial strike on Sunday, November 7th. Plans tointroduce such a scheme were first discussed by representatives of all concerned early in 1947, and after making a carefulreview of the various other methods of increasing efficiency the decision was subsequently taken to introduce the premiumbonus scheme initially in the Certificate of Airworthiness hangar at Northolt. It was felt that as workers of manyaircraft constructors and some maintenance specialists were paid on the premium bonus system, the work of B.E.A.ground maintenance could well be put on a similar payment basis. Furthermore, repair organizations handling militaryaircraft during tile war had operated satisfactorily on these lines even though the work undertaken was of necessity farless systematic than are periodic overhauls and maintenance. Before the scheme was finally agreed discussions were heldbetween B.E.A., central panels of trade union representatives and local panels, at which details were worked out and thetimes were set for the various stages of operations. Agreement to the scheme and its acceptance by these panelswas obtained, and it is understood that every effort has been made by the Corporation to explain the system to the menconcerned and to secure their co-operation and understanding of the principles involved. B.E.A. introduced the scheme ina genuine effort to reduce manpower costs, which last year amounted to over £1 million, taking the realistic view thata financial incentive would be the best way to achieve more work per man hour without detracting from the quality ofworkmanship. As' must be widely known the principle on which thepremium bonus scheme operates is that times are set for the various stages of maintenance Operations. These times areworked out by rate-fixers, who determine the actual number of hours required for various operations. These are indicatedon cards and operators clock on and off when the job is started and finished. Whatever time an engineer is able to save onthe time set is converted into a cash sum, 50 per cent of which goes into the employee's pay packet and 50 per centto the employers. It has been said by some antagonists to the scheme that itleads to a hurrying of the work and a resultant poor quality in the finished job. This argument is not supported by factsince obviously if a hurried or unsatisfactory piece of work is rejected by the inspectors it must be rectified to their satis-faction and no extra allowance of time is given for such rectification. It is clear, therefore, that the engineer whosework passes inspection at the first submission will be.saved
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