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Aviation History
1949
1949 - 0756.PDF
APRIL 28TH, 1949 FLIGHT 499 THE BRITISH CORPORATIONS —and Their Associated Airlines : How and Where They Operate WHEN the Civil Aviation Act of 1946 received theRoyal Assent on August 1st of that year, threepublic corporations wholly owned by the Govern- ment were charged with the primary responsibility of operating Britain's scheduled air services. For that purpose, each was allocated a geographical sphere of operations in which exclusive British operating rights were granted, and protected by the Act. The Govern- ment retained the right to direct in matters of policy and to appoint the chairmen and members of the Board, but operating and administrative freedom was allowed to the Corporations.' Changes have since been made necessary by the need for economy after initial extravagances and by the absence of suitable British civil aircraft. Even the original con- ception as planned in the Civil Aviation Act has suffered major changes through failure of the original monopolistic plan to operate economically. For example, the British charter companies are now permitted to operate scheduled services over certain routes as Associates of British European Airways, and British South American Airways Corporation has been merged with British Overseas Air- ways Corporation. The overall subsidies originally en- visaged have been exceeded in the two financial periods already completed. Nevertheless, new routes have been opened up, and a reputation for safety, comfort and regu- larity established. Recent purchases of new equipment, preparation of long- term plans for operating British aircraft of advanced de- sign, and the introduction of strictly economic policies all suggest that the two remaining British Corporations may be expected to continue to fulfil their purpose, but with a greater degree of economy. Whereas B.O.A.C. and B.E.A.C. operate in direct competition with foreign air- lines on the same routes, reciprocal arrangements are in- variably made for ground services at airports, booking arrangements in towns and cities overseas, and passenger- and freight-handling. On routes to the Dominions, how- ever, the services are in several cases flown on an agreed joint basis which makes for economy and avoids wasteful overlapping. Another important function, the true value of which will be better appreciated in years to come, is the support, both financial and practical, given by the Corporations to Colonial airline operators providing internal and feeder-line services to the main trunk routes ; similar support has also been given to certain foreign airlines. Commonwealth Policy Commonwealth co-operation at Government level re- sulted in the formation in 1947 of British Commonwealth Pacific Airlines, Ltd., in which the Governments of Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom have a financial interest as to 50, 30 and 20 per cent respectively, the British interest being represented on the board by the chairman of B.O.A.C. Before attempting a survey of the two remaining British Corporations and their activities, it is important to under- stand something of the air-transport systems in the Com- monwealth countries; a considerable measure of inter- dependence exists between the home and overseas organizations. Each Dominion differs in details of ad- ministration, but, broadly speaking, there prevails a common policy which permits the operation of scheduled services by private companies, generally by means of a Airways Terminal, Victoria, route-licensing system, though in several eases State-owned corporations have been established. Australia.—The Department of Civil Aviation is respon- sible for air-transport policy, licensing and certification in the Dominion. The Australian National Airlines Com- mission was created by Act of Parliament in 1945 to estab- lish and operate airline services on behalf of the Govern- ment. For this purpose Trans-Australia Airlines was set up in 1946 as a company wholly owned and controlled by the Government to operate over internal routes. Qantas Empire Airways, Ltd., operated the U.K.-Australia route in association with Imperial Airways after being estab- lished in 1934 by that company and Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services. The British interests were subsequently transferred to B.O.A.C., and then, in February, 1947, to the Government of Australia, which has since assumed full control and acquired 100 per cent owner- ship of the company. A Constellation service is now flown in conjunction with B.O.A.C. between London and Sydney. External and internal services are operated by the large independent airline, Australian National Airwavs Pty., Ltd. Other Australian operators are Aircrafts Proprietary, Ltd., Airlines (W.A.), Ltd., Ansett Airways Pty., Ltd., Barrier Reef Airways, Butler Air Transport Pty., Ltd., Conellan Airways, East-West Airlines, Ltd., Guinea Airways, Ltd., Interstate Air Services Pty., Ltd., MacRobertson- Miller Aviation Co., Ltd., and Townsville and Country Airlines. Canada.—Civil aviation is the responsibility of the Minister of the Department of Transport, who delegates responsibility to a Deputy Minister for Air Services, a Con- troller of Civil Aviation and Controllers for each of the services Radio and Meteorology. An Air Transport Board is responsible for controlling air traffic and for advising the Government on air-transport policy. Trans-Canada Airlines is an autonomous State-owned corporation and operates inter-city, transcontinental and international services. Canadair aircraft, powered by four
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