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Aviation History
1949
1949 - 2022.PDF
788 CIVILAVIATION NEWS COMETS FOR CANADAA S the result of a decision reached after exhaustive studiesof the de Havilland Comet on the ground and in flight, Canadian Pacific Airlines have placed an initial order for twoaircraft, to be used on the Vancouver-Tokyo-Hong Kong service. Delivery is expected for 1952 or early 1953. Thiswelcome news constitutes a most important step towards inter- national acceptance of commercial operations with jet aircraft.At present operated with Canadairs, the 6,800-mile Van- couver-Hong Kong route has three stopping points: Anchorage(Alaska), Shemya in the Aleutians and Hong Kong. The stage distances involved are: Vancouver to Anchorage, 1,400 statutemiles; Anchorage to Shemya (Semitchi), 1,550; Shemya to Tokyo, 2,100; and Tokyo to Hong Kong, 1,850. Intermediatepoints are G.C.A.-equipped, having been prepared originally as major air bases in the Pacific campaign. Prevailing winds111 the Aleutians are westerly and, although fog is prevalent in this area, there has so far been no frequent interference withthe Canadair services. On the longer stages, the weather is almost always good. It is anticipated that this lengthy route,representing, as it does, a quarter of the distance around the world, will be accomplished in an elapsed time of less than20 hr, including three one-hour stops. C.P.A. also operate a service from Vancouver to Honoluluand Australia, and the fact that negotiations are now in pro- gress for a further two aircraft (for delivery at a later date)suggests that the company may be considering the introduction of Comets on this route as a second-stage development. The possibility ol a Comet with extended fuselage has recentlybeen under discussion, but it is understood that for the time being only the standard fuselage will be produced.It is assumed that C.P.A. will receive Comets Nos. 17 and 18, which will follow the already announced order for 14 fromB.O.A.C. Negotiations for the first C.P.A. order were com- pleted by Mr. G. W. G. McConachie (president) and Capt.Pentland (operations manager for the Pacific area) during a recent visit to the United Kingdom. This very significant order should mark- the beginning of along career of dollar-earning for Britain by what is undoubtedly the most promising airliner currently offered to' the world'soperators. CHARTER CONTROVERSY '"PHE recent transfer to B.O.A.C. of the contract for flying-I- personnel of the Overseas Food Corporation to East Africa was the subject of severe Opposition criticism in the House ofCommons last week. It was alleged that the negotiations for the renewal of the contract had been conducted in anunorthodox commercial manner, and that B.O.A.C. is now operating the service uneconomical^—thereby placing anunnecessary burden on the taxpayer. The allegations were denied by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of CivilAviation, Mr. Lindgren, and by Sir Miles Thomas, Chairman of B.O.A.C. A statement has been issued .by Hunting Air Travel—fromwhom the contract was transferred to B.O.A.C.—protesting against accusations by Mr. Lindgren that the company wasnot observing the "fair wages" clause of the Civil Aviation Act. and expressing the view that the Government is display-ing a policy of endeavouring to eliminate every air-charter company " by one means or another." Loss of the contracthas caused redundancies amounting to 30 per cent of the company's staff. Though no further developments have occurred at the timeof going to press, it may be assumed th'at more is likely to be heard of the matter. HERMES DELIVERY T\ELIVERY of the first of the B.O.A.C. fleet of 25 Hermes-L' aircraft is expected in the immediate future. Results of route trials (due to begin early in the new year) and the finalrate of delivery of the aircraft will determine the date of their introduction into service. The Corporation states that it is FLIGHT, 22 December 1949 WHAT, NO MISTLETOE! Christmas decorations in thecabin of a K.L.M. Constellation will assist in providing the traditional atmosphere for travellers obliged to forsake theYule-log fireside. intended to use the Hermes as replacements for the Solents employed on the South and East African routes and that the substitution may begin next summer. STATE CONTRIBUTION REPLYING to a question in the House of Commons, Mr.Strauss (Minister of • Supply) revealed that the total contribution made by his department towards development ofthe D.H. Comet was estimated at approximately ^4,000,000. The main item was said to be the cost of the.development ofthe Ghost engine, which might also be used in other aircraft. Other expenditure was on three prototypes of the D.H.-108built to obtain experience of the aerodynamic problems of the Comet project. The Comet which was now flying and the second prototypewhich was nearing completion, had been purchased by the Ministry of Supply, and would both be used for experimentalpurposes. The price of the two aircraft was included in the ^4,000,000, but the Minister explained that this figure does notcover the cost of basic research and wind-tunnel tests. CANADIAN DISPUTE THE request from the Governor of New York, Mr. Dewey,for State Department intervention in the dispute between Colonial Airlines and the Canadian Air Transport Board hasbeen rejected by the State Department. The view was ex- pressed that the State Department could not intervene inCanadian proceedings against an American airline company, since it could not interfere with the judicial processes of aforeign country. Colonial Airlines had been ordered by the Canadian Govern-ment to show cause why their certificates to operate the New York-Montreal and Ottawa routes should not be revoked.Under an agreement signed between the two Governments last June, it was agreed that T.C.A. should share the Montreal-New York route, which had previously been the monopoly of Colonial Airlines, and rights in Canada were given to variousAmerican companies. Colonial Airlines brought an action in the American courts challenging the constitutionality of theagreement and, as a result, T.C.A. has been unable to com-
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