FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Atlas
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
1950
1950 - 0419.PDF
FLIGHT, 2 March 1950 2S1 1949, Pan American accounted for 37.7 per cent, A.O.A. for25.5, and T.W.A. for 32.8. The proposed merger would thus permit P.A.A. to participate in 67.2 per cent of the totaltraffic regardless of any further adjustment due to its increased size. T.W.A. calls upon the C.A.B. to uphold the U.S.Government's present policy of regulated competition in American international air traffic. The protest is couched in strong terms; part of it states:'' The Government must decide whether it is to remain stead- fast in its apposition to monopoly in this field, or succumb tothe unrelenting pressure of the most powerful and sinister form of influence that has ever represented American industryin its relations with the Government." Both Pan American and A.O.A. are said to have failedto establish any valid reasons why the present three-company system should be abandoned in favour of what would virtuallyconstitute a P.A.A. monopoly. COMET PRESSLRIZATION TEST THE de Havilland Comet made its longest non-stop flightto date on February 21st, when it took off from Matfield and remained in the air for five and three-quarter hours.The aircraft flew for the first time with the cabin differential pressure increased to 5£lb/sq in; during earlier flights it waspressurized at a differential of only 2 lb/sq in. The Comet is reported to have climbed to 41,500ft (a littleover its most economical cruising altitude) and fuel-consump- tion checks were carried out at a variety of speeds and heights.On board, in addition to the normal crew of five, was an ob- server whose duties were mainly concerned with the pressuriza-tion equipment. SKYJEEP PROGRESS THE manufacturers' report on progress with the ChriskaSkyjeep indicates that a C. of A. may be forthcoming some time during March. The type C.H. 3 series IV, as the Skyjeep is officially designated, made its first flight in November and it has been undergoing continuous development trials since that date. The Skyjeep can accommodate four passengers with provision for two additional occasional seats for children; the payload is 510 lb at standard range (520 miles) or 610 lb at 345 miles range. At maximum a.u.w. (2,500 lb) an economical cruising speed of 115 m.p.h. is claimed. The price of the aircraft is quoted as a little over £2,000. The Skyjeep is powered by a 155 h.p. Cirrus Major III, and its undercarriage is adaptable for Goodyear cross-wind landing gear. Standard fuel capacity is 38 gal, but an additional 20 gal may be carried in long-range tanks. CHARTER PROTEST SEVERE criticism of the terms of the Civil Aviation Act,1946, which afforded the State-owned corporations a virtual monopoly of British scheduled air services, is contained in a booklet issued last week by the British Air Charter Association and presenting '' the case for the independent air-transport companies in the United King- dom." The 1946 Act and subsequent legisla- tion is, says the B.A.C.A., "cramping civil aviation and the business and trade which flow from rapid communications." Addi- tionally, the policy has, it is argued, been creating unemployment in the air transport industry, restricting the market for new air- craft and postponing the day when airfields will be self-supporting. Particular reference is made to the short comings of Section 24 of the Air Corporation^ Act, 1949 (formerly Section 23 of the 1946 legislation), which imposes severe restrictioB.s on the operational activities of the charter companies. The fact that the operation ot routes under associate agreements is by no means a permanent policy is already becom- ing evident. The legal powers vested in tht*. State by the terms of Section 25 of the Act, ROLLING UP TO RIO : Among those boarding the B.O.A.C. Argonaut for the South American proving flight referred to on this page are (second from left) Mr. J. W. Booth, (bottom left) Sir Victor Tait, and (fourth from left) Mr. Keith Granville. says the booklet, give th<: .Minister of Civil Aviation " powersof inquiry which can be inquisitorial " and are contrary to the principles of English justice. Under Section 15, the smallest independent company isrequired by law to give the same rates of pay and conditions of employment as one of the subsidised corporations againstwhich it is not allowed to compete. The Association states "the strict application of this section to every charter com-pany in the country will almost certainly mean that many of them will have to go out of business . . . ." The proposal is made that a new Civil Aviation Act shouldbe instituted whereby the M.C.A. would merely be permitted to administer and not to legislate. A revised system of air-transport licensing, to be controlled by an independent authority, is also advocated. Furthermore, the Associationconsiders that air transport should be dealt with as a com- mercial activity and completely divorced from politics. It issuggested that the position of subsidized and non-subsidized companies should be regulated on the principle that a subsidywould be paid by the State only for services which cannot be provided by private enterprise without the assistance of sucha subsidy, and only if these services -are needed by, and would benefit, the community. There should be no need to point out again the potentialvalue of the charter companies' facilities in the event of war; but this aspect alone, to say nothing of the valuable part whichthe charter operators could play in assisting our trade and commerce, should be sufficient to justify a change of policy infavour of the independent operators. A NEW BELLANCA A NEW American private four-seater which appears likelyto achieve considerable popularity is the Bellanca 190 Cruisemaster. This Lycoming-powered version of the originalCruisair is reported to have a maximum climb of 1,600 ft/min and a cruising speed of over 170 m.p.h. Versions will beavailable with both the Hartzell selective fully controllable- pitch airscrew and the normal Aeromatic type. Standard fuelcapacity is 40 gallons in the wing tanks, giving an endurance of 3J hours and a range of 630 miles; overload tanks give arange of 1,000 miles. Overall length is approximately 23ft and the span 34ft 2in;the fully cantilever vving is of plastic-laminated plywood with a Jin skin. A novel feature for a small aircraft is the designof the radio aerial, which consists of aluminium foil glued to the inner surface of the wing, access being obtained throughinspection holes in the under surface. Price is in the region of §0,500. A photograph appears overleaf. B.O.A.C. "TRADE FLIGHT" "PRECEDING the introduction of the Argonauts on the South *- American route on February 28th, B.O.A.C. despatched an aircraft of this type on what is termed a '' trade flight'' to cover the projected route. Passengers «n the flight include Mr.
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
