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Aviation History
1950
1950 - 1494.PDF
I OS FLIGHT, io 'August 1950 CIVIL AVIATION NEWS . . . the previous financial year (1948-49) are given in italics,together with percentage change. It is emphasized that the figures are provisional and that final results, including thefinancial figures, will be issued when the Corporations' annual reports are presented to Parliament. Aircraft-miles Capacity ton-miles ... Passenger-miles Mail ton-miles Freight ton-miles B.O.A.C. 26,880,48? 30,893,638 - 13.0 115,584,094 102,593,738 + 12.7 420,434.498 409,640,/134 2.6 9,082,741 8,954,260 + 1.415,719,854 / 3,969,553 + 9.0 B.E.A. 16 '.4' 739 / 2,786.907 + 25.5 36,666,007 26,275.607 -39 5 213,662,462 155,027.743 -4- 37.8 1,692.335 1,154,224 + 46.6 2,951,095 2,333,859 + 26.4 Tota' for Corpora- tions 42 930 *7! 43.680 545 - 1.7 152 2b0 l"l 1.'8.860.345 - 18 1 631 146.960 564.66- .356+ 12.3 10,775.076 W.I0S t?4 - 6618.'70,949 f6.7T3.4J2.. + 11.5 Associates 1,372.652 111,726 — 1,393.990 72.896 — 6,667,258 337,2/6 557 — 212.581 16 As the table clearly shows, B.E.A. again enjoyed the lion'sshare of the overall improvement in traffic on British scheduled services. The most noteworthy increases are those in pas-senger-mileage (37.8 per cent), and mail ton-mileage,(46.6 per cent) against an increase in capacity ton-mileage of some 10million (39.5 per cent). B.O.A.C flew 12.7 per cent more capacity ton-miles in thesame period; the figures for passenger and freight-ton miles flown rose by 2.6 and 9 per cent respectively. Meanwhile, the preliminary estimate of B.E.A.'s operatingdeficit for the financial year ended March 31st, 1950 (see Flight, July 27th), has been placed at £1,363,594—less thanhalf of the loss incurred during the previous year. B.O.A.C.'s deficit for the same period has been estimated at approximately£8 million—a figure which is almost the same as the combined deficits of B.O.A.C. and B.S.A. for year 1948-49. Speaking in Salisbury (Rhodesia), where he will attend theofficial opening of Livingstone Airport on August 12th, Sir Miles Thomas, chairman of B.O.A.C., said that the reason forthis apparent lack of progress was that the substantial economies which had resulted from re-organization andimproved operating efficiency had been offset by the unexpected extra costs (amounting to more than £2 million which the Cor-poration had had to face during the past financial year. That B.O.A.C.'s trend is definitely towards improvement,however, is shown by the fact that direct operating costs have been reduced by more than £300,000 and—a sure indexof increasing efficiency—the output of ton-miles per employee has risen by more than 15 per cent. TARMAC TUGS SOME informative observations on requirements for modernairport-tractors are made by the Mecury Truck and Tractor Co., Ltd., of Gloucester, who, with the collaborationof B.E.A. at Northolt, have been making development tests to evolve an "ideal" vehicle. To tow a big aircraft weighing anything up to 60 tons, theyremark, requires a vehicle which is itself heavy; it must, how- ever, be low enough to pass under wings, be very light inclutch and steering action, give unobstructed view in all directions, and be very manoeuvrable. As it works outdoorsin all climates, night and day, it must be weatherproof and easy to start. It must have a range of speed from " inching "to a serviceable 15-16 m.p.h. It must be able to carry four or five ground crew, and it should have a suspended backaxle to prevent road shocks on rough perimeter tracks from being transmitted to the aircraft. For night work, intelligentlyplanned lights are essential—spotlights and "spreads" in exactly the right position, as well as the usual navigationlamps. Above all, since it will have to work exceedingly long hours, the ideal tug must be economical and easily maintained. "Modern airport practice," it is added, "tends steadilytowards towing instead of taxi-ing; it is kinder to aircraft engines, to passengers and to crews, and to people who happento get in the slipstream. When jets take over entirely from airscrews there will be no more taxi-ing, and the aircraft trac-tors which have been developed for this one purpose will come into their own." DESERT WEATHER TSSUED by the Meteorological Office as No. 5 in its Reports •*• series, Aviation Meteorology of tlie Route C&stel Benito- Cairo (H.M. Stationery Office, price TS 6d), describes the move- ment of depressions and fronts and the associated weather on the various sections of the route. Visibility, cloud, wind, rainfall, and other factors are discussed individually for the different seasons of the year, and a number of climatic tables are given. Much of the route lies over desert areas and fine weathe: predominates; the most likely obstacles to comfortable flying are the occasional widespread sandstorms, which occur chiefly in the winter and spring. Settled fine weather is experienced in summer and generally good conditions may also be expected in winter, though then there are periods of showery weathei with local thunderstorms. These disturbed conditions are appreciably more frequent over the western part of the routs than over the eastern section. CANADIAN APPOINTMENT THE promotion of Major Robert Dodds, O.B.E., M.C.,Superintendent of Airways and Airports in the Canadian Department of Transport, to the position of Controller of Civil Aviation is announced -j. jointly by the Minister ol Transport and the Civil Service Commission. He succeeds Mr. A. D. "McLean, who was recently appointed to the Air Transport Board. \ In his capacity«as Colfetroller, Major Dpdds will he itepon- sible fpt ihe control of air civil aviation within the jurisdiction of the Aeronautics Act, 1919, administration of the air regu- V lations, licensing of personnel I and'aircraft, maintenance and operation of the Trans-Canada Airways System and the planning and construction of State-controlled airports. The new Controller has been associated with the Civil Aviation Division since 1930, primarily in connection with the survey and development of the Airways System and Trans-Canada Air Lines. In the first world war. Major Dodds was a fighter-pilot with the R.F.C. and was awarded the Military Cross. During World War II his administrative ability in connection with the provision of airfields under the British Empire Air Training Plan was recognized by the award of the O.B.E. INTERNATIONAL RESCUE SERVICE A PLAN for an international search and rescue service hasbeen submitted by I.C.A.O. for adoption by its 58 mem- ber states. It is outlined in the new set of standards and recommended practices that will become effective on December 1st as Annex 12 to the I.C.A.O. Convention unless in the meantime a majority of members register disapproval. Based broadly on wartime techniques, the rescue organiza- tion will place an emphasis on economy consistent with reason- able protection for the air-travelling public. To this end, States are called upon to pool their resources aad to formulate joint plans. The Annex envisages that public services such as army, air force, and navy and police detachments, provided they are suitably organized and equipped, will be able to undertake Major R. Dodds, O.B.E., M.C. Aug. Aug. Aug. Aug. Aug. Sept. Sept. Sept. Sept. Sept. Sept. Sept. 16. 19. 20. 24 26. 2.' 5-10. 8-11. IS. IS. 16 FORTHCOMING EVENTS R.A.F. Golfing Soc'ety : Match v. R.N. and R.M. G.S.. nil'. Swansea and District Flying Club : Kemiley Trophy(International), Fairwood Common, Swansea. Skegness Air Rally, Ingoldmells. West Race Association of British Aero Clubs : Summer Convention. Wiltshire Flying Club : Thruxton Races. International Contest for Free Balloons, Holland. Coventry Aero Club : Siddeley Challenge Trophy Baginton, Coventry.S.B.A.C- Flying Displav ind Exhibition. Biarritz International Rally Battle of Britain Day. R.A.F. : " At Home " Day. Daily Express Internationa! Air Race, Hum A Bournemouth. Race rport,
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