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Aviation History
1950
1950 - 0725.PDF
FLIGHT, 13 April 1950 47* CIVIL AVIATION NEWS COLONIAL COMMERCE : The establishment of an important trade link between British Guiana and Boa Vista in Brazil is no* being planned ; British Guiana Airways, one of whose Dakotas is seen above at Boa Vista, have been authorized to carry freight over the route. The pole behind the aircraft is a radio mast, its guys invisible against the clouds. MANY WERE CALLED . . . . '"PHE Annual Report of the Air Transport Advisory Council, X published on April 5th, gives some indication of the diffi- culties and opposition encountered by those who are attempt- ing to plan and expand the operations of British charter companies. The Council was established under the terms of the Civil Aviation Act, 1946, to consider public representations on the activities and facilities of the State-owned airlines and other relevant matters. The greater part of its work in 1949 was the consideration of applications from charter companies to operate scheduled services under associate agreements with the Corporations. The report says that of 231 applications for regular services or tours, only 85 were approved, 59 of which were for regular services. Explaining the fact that many applicants who received approval did not proceed further, the report says: "approval may have reached the companies too late for them to complete their arrangements in time for the summer season. Fifty-three were finally approved by the Minister." Up to the end of 1949, 138 applications were received to operate scheduled services this year. The Minister of Civil Aviation, Lord Pakenham, has added a statement to the report in which he makes reference to two instances in which he was unable to accept the recommenda- tions of the Advisory Council. The first was in respect of an application to run an international service which, under exist- ing legislation, is subject to review by the Minister, having regard to current agreements with foreign governments; the second was a request by Scottish Aviation, Ltd., for a daily Dakota service from Aberdeen to Belfast, via Perth, Edinburgh and Prestwick, which was opposed by B.E.A. on the grounds of competition. Although the Council recommended approval. Lord Pakenham upheld B.E.A.'s objection "in the public- interest." AIR-SUBSIDIZED ROADS? A PROPOSAL which is likely to receive the support of prac- •** tically every aviation interest in the country has been put forward in the form of a memorandum to the Chancellor of the Exchequer by Mr. F. J. Erroll (M.P. for Altrincham and Sale). He urges the repeal of the tax on aviation spirit for flying in tlie United Kingdom. The note emphasizes that the duty of 9d a gallon is levied on all spirit used, whether for actual flying operations, bench- testing of engines or in test-flying, and constitutes an un- necessary burden on the aircraft industry. Mr. Erroll stresses the great benefits which removal of the tax would confer 011 charter companies, the State-owned airlines, flying clubs and private owners alike. He argues that it would assist the charter companies to maintain their essential role in world trade, and reminds the Chancellor that, even before devalua- tion, increased fuel costs, high landing fees and replacement charges made the charter companies' financial problems acute. In the case for the clubs, the memorandum points out that, in view of the Government's affirmed intention to support them, one practical way to help and encourage the movement would be to reduce their present expenditure by removal of the tax. At the moment it adds 5s an hour to the cost of operating a small aircraft. The potential reductions in the high running cost of B.E.A.'s internal services are also stressed and it is pointed out that devaluation is estimated to have slowed down the hoped-for deficit-reduction by some ,£430,000 this year. In a subsequent statement, Mr. Erroll said "it is most unfair that the motor spirit duty, originally intended for the upkeep and development of the roads, should be levied on all aviation spirit used in the U.K., merely because, like motor spirit, it just happens to be a light hydrocarbon oil. The average of 15,600,000 gallons of aviation spirit consumed each year in the U.K. entails a duty of approximately /585,00c." The removal of the tax would certainlv be one of the simplest and most practical methods of aiding and encourag- ing flying in Britain. HALF TIME? THE highly controversial affair of the 71 "ownerless" air-craft in Hong Kong (mention of which was made in Flight of April 6th) was the occasion, for a debate in the House ofCommons last week. Replying to criticism of the Hong Kong Court's decision, the Minister of State for the Colonies, Mr.Dugdale, said that an appeal had been lodged by represen- tatives of the Chinese Nationalists and the United States, andwould be heard on April 28th. Until then the matter would be sub judice and the Government would not take any actionon it. Mr. Dugdale said that there were no powers by which spares could be prevented from leaving the country. He alsostated that the Government had no intention of taking any steps in this case apart from those designed to ensure thattheir obligations under Hong Kong law, the Chicago Conven- tion, and international law in general are complied with. The Government is understood to be taking legal advice onthe subject, and until an exact interpretation is obtained the aircraft and equipment will remain subject to the decision ofthe court on April 28th. Mr. Dugdale concluded his reply by saying '' the most important aspect of the whole question isto maintain the rule of law." The matter is obviously one of some international importanceand it might well be asked whether the Communists would be as fully appreciative of the legality of Britain's attitude asthey would of the valuable addition of such aircraft to their forces in the Far East. THE CHARTER MARKET '"THE trend of recent activity on the air charter section of -I the Baltic Exchange has been towards an increase in the number of enquiries circulating. After an almost complete disappearance of freight—which, in any case, was offering ex- tremely low rates to operators-—some improvement in this traffic is now reported. The carriage of passengers, however, still represents the major proportion of business. Prospects for summer tourist traffic are continuing to brighten, and
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