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Aviation History
1953
1953 - 0022.PDF
22 FLIGHT CIVIL AVIATION . . . January 15; they are at present discussing a Pakistan offer of two alternative routes via Kandahar—both longer than the direct journey but preferable to the existing route permitted by Pakistan. SILVER CITY IN LIBYA ABRIEF news item in Flight of November 28th contained the first intimation that the Government of the newly constituted Kingdom of Libya were proposing to enlist the services of a British independent operator with a view to opening internal airline services. That report was confirmed last week when Silver City Airways announced that they had been granted such a con cession by the United Kingdom of Libya and that two Bristol 170s will begin freight and passenger services between Idris el Awal (Tripoli) and Benina (Benghazi) on February 2nd. Air Commodore Griffith Powell, chairman of S.C.A., told us that he first realized the potentialities of operating in Libya after reading an article in The Times which described the difficulties arising from the fact that Libya has two capitals—Tripoli and Benghazi. The resultant demand for transport between the two capitals (particularly when the court makes its six-monthly move from one to the other) is heightened by the indirectness of the land journey, due to the profile of the Libyan coastline, and by the infrequency of ship services. Overland, the distance is 660 miles and the journey takes 36 hours; Silver City's freighters will make a direct 416-mile crossing in some 2J hours. Although the British company was faced with both competition and opposition, negotiations were successful and resulted in a one- year concession. Under the terms of the agreement Silver City are obliged to form a Libyan company within the first year of operations, and the Libyan Government has retained the option to hold a major proportion of the shares. Silver City have decided, however, to meet the first requirements from the outset by operating as a national carrier—probably under the name of Libyan Airways. The nucleus of the airline is already being set up and two (later three) of Silver City's Freighter fleet will be permanently stationed in Libya. The manager of the airline will be Mr. Kenneth Jolly, formerly S.C.A. freight officer, with H.Q. at Tripoli; Mr. F. O. Foster, his deputy, will be based at Benghazi. The new company, state Silver City, will have as its main object the development of the "short-cut" Tripoli-Benghazi route and is not intended to compete with international trunk route operators. Traffic carried by the Freighters will be that diverted from surface carriers—namely goats, camels, horses, sheep, cattle, motor vehicles and general freight, together with second and third class passengers. Paying £10 single and £15 return fares for the Tripoli- Benghazi journey, second class passengers will fly in the nine-seat separate rear cabin of the freighter; 20 third class passengers will be carried (without sound proofing) at fares of £6 and £11 return behind a movable bulkhead in the centre of the fuselage; space remaining in the cargo hold will be occupied by 6,000 lb of freight. Single fares for animals will be £24 (camels and horses), £12 (cattle), and £4 (sheep and goats). Tfie concession also calls for additional flights, probably on a weekly basis, from Benghazi to Kufra Oasis (575 miles) and from Tripoli to Sebha, inland capital of the province of Fezzan, a journey of 398 miles. It is also intended to open services from Tripoli to Tunis and Malta; special cheap return fares of respectively £10 and £6 are intended to attract troops from the British garrison in Tripoli who wish to LIBYAN ENTERPRISE: As reported on this page, Silver City Airways are forming a small subsidiary company—probably under the name of Libyan Airways—to operate between Libya's twin capitals of Tripoli and Benghazi. The drawing indicates the advantages of air travel on this main internal route, where the new airline's Freighters will reduce the journey by some 250 miles, and journey-time by more than 30 hr. visit Tunis or Malta during their leave periods. At present the only scheduled services between Benghazi and Tripoli are those operated by B.E.A. which has cabotage rights in Libya. Three flights weekly in each direction are made by Vikings, at rates which are approximately twice the second class fares to be operated by Libyan Airways. A NOTE FOR NAVIGATORS MONTREAL has been chosen by the International Airline Navigators' Convention as the venue for its Fourth Annual Convention. The exact date of the meeting has not yet been fixed but it is tentatively proposed to hold it in February. The 1952 convention which lasted three days was held in London last July. Since then the council has published the first issue of its quarterly, magazine, the Internatinnal Flight Navigator which is edited by I.A.N.C. chairman, John D. Nicholas, a T.W.A. navigator, and is "dedicated exclusively to promoting the interests of the aerial navigation profession on an international basis." Among the associate editors are Henri Almin of Air France and Einar Pedersen (who was responsible for navigation on the first trans-Arctic com mercial flight made by S.A.S. last November), both of whom have contributed articles to the first issue. Almin's article evaluates the requirements of the specialist air navigator, while Pedersen's contribution is a brief but informative review of polar navigation problems. Fred Wirth of Swissair, council secretary, reports that I.A.N.C. membership is now in the region of 700 and that new applications for membership are coming from navigators in many parts of the world. IMPROVED, ADJUSTABLE CONNIE RECENTLY announced by Lockheed is an advanced interior-layout scheme for the Super Constellation which is "engin eered for the sophisticate and tourist alike, to keep luxury and economy in profitable proximity." These desirable ends are achieved by means of several alternative interior arrangements, allowing 47 first-class seats, 59-63 second-class seats, or 94 tourist- class seats on international operations, with speedy interchange- ability. For domestic use, carrying a smaller crew, up to 99 tourist passengers can be carried. A concise description of the new interior is included in the Lockheed statement: "For the passenger, the high-style interior provides such innovations as six separate cabins, for greater privacy; a mid-plane lounge, plush with fine paintings and low- backed leather sofas; re-designed chairs with disappearing arms and built-in head cushions; and rich-grained wood walls." Larger windows are also featured, together with "reduced noise, a result of the sound-baffling effect of compartmentation." The new Super Constellation's main asset, according to Mr. Hall L. Hibbard, vice-president of engineering, is its com- CALIFORNIAN ROTORSTATION: Subject to C.A.A. and C.A.B. approval this helicopter landing-site will be built "atop" the 12-storey Pacific Mutual Life building in the central area of Los Angeles. It will be leased to Los Angeles Airways, whose S-55s, ;"t is claimed, will provide a six-minute connection with Los Angeles Airport.
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