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Aviation History
1953
1953 - 0840.PDF
834 FLIGHT, 26 June, 1953 CITY CLOCK-FACE: The scene on the blitzed site at Liverpool following the demonstration landing of the Bristol 171 (see report below). CIVIL AVIATION . . . greater on eastern rather than on western routes. Pa4senger-miles flown on Atlantic routes fell by eight per cent, and the passenger load factor decreased from 63 to 53 per cent. There was no sig nificant change in the passenger load factor on the eastern routes. Freight traffic in both areas remained at about the same level as the previous year, while mail ton-miles increased by six per cent. Total ton-miles performed were 9,197,000 (B.O.A.C), 2,496,000 (B.E.A.), and 202,000 (associates); representing increases over February, 1952, of 4.7, 24 and 70.3 per cent respectively. LIVERPOOL HELICOPTER DEMONSTRATION A DEMONSTRATION landing by a Bristol Type 171 heli copter on a blitzed site in the heart of Liverpool on Thursday, June nth, was described by Sir Alfred Shennan (leader of Liverpool City Council) as a "step forward in the city's investi gations" regarding a central helicopter landing site. The demonstration had been arranged by the City Council and the Bristol Aeroplane Company. The Lord Mayor of Liverpool (Alderman W. J. Tristram), with civic representatives, was present when the helicopter— piloted by Mr. C. T. D. Hosegood—landed on the blitzed site; later, accompanied by Sir Alfred Shennan and Mr. H. T. Hough (City Engineer), he took a brief flight in the machine. At a reception at the Adelphi Hotel afterwards, Mr. Raoul Hafner, Bristol chief helicopter designer, told civic representatives cf his visit to the recent I.A.T.A. conference at Puerto Rico, and outlined the findings of the Helicopter Symposium. THE NEW SALISBURY AIRPORT THE new airport which will eventually serve Salisbury, Southern Rhodesia, and which was the scene of the recent Rhodes Centenary Air Rally (see pages 802-803), is situated some l\ miles south of the city. Early in 1951 construction work was begun—as a matter of some urgency—in order to provide an airfield from which the Southern Rhodesia Air Force could train operational pilots as a major part of the state's contribution to Commonwealth defence. The S.R.A.F. have been using the base now for almost a year, suc cessfully carrying out their training programme. The S.R.A.F. base has been sited so that the buildings are on the opposite side of the main runway to the civil aviation buildings, taxi tracks and hardstandings which will eventually be constructed. The airport possesses a two-runway layout, the main 8,400ft tarmac runway running S.W.-N.E. and the 4,500ft secondary runway running N.W.-S.E. EXHIBITION AIRLIET H ERMES, York and Viking aircraft have been chartered from Airwork, Ltd., for use during the period of the Rhodes Centenary Exhibition. On June 18th, the full Halle Orchestra, with Sir John and Lady Barbirolli, were due to fly by Hermes aircraft from Blackbushe to Bulawayo, where they are performing during the opening period of the exhibition. Other performers being flown out to Bulawayo by Airwork include the Sadlers Wells Theatre Ballet company, the Covent Garden Opera Company, John Gielgud and his Richard II company, and the Edinburgh Police Pipe Band. The total number of artistes involved is some 400, and the flights, which began on May 25th, will continue until the end of August. TURBO-COMPOUND SUPER CONNIE TPHE new turbo-compound-powered Super Constellation, A following a 48-day test period, recently received a C.A.A. certificate qualifying it for public service. The first machine, destined for K.L.M., was due to arrive at Schipol Airport, Amsterdam, last week, to begin a series of tours of the European capitals. Phrases from the makers' announcement refer once again to the new interior: "club-like lounge, with murals . . . sofa-type seats . . . bulkheads of rich wood . . . wall-to-wall carpeting . . . luxurious fabrics . . . and leather . . . ten-cubic-foot refrigerator . . . diffused lighting and four washrooms"; and, finally, "its compartmentation gives more passenger privacy." For complete privacy, no doubt, there is always the refrigerator —though, presumably, without murals. The second of K.L.M.'s Super Constellations is illustrated on page 833. BREVITIES THE Ministry of Civil Aviation announces that Mr. C. M. Colback has been appointed south-western divisional controller at the Ministry's Headquarters at Bristol in succession to A.V-M. W. B. Calloway, C.B.E., A.F.C., who retired from the appoint ment on June 15th. * * * The total of international traffic transactions through the I.A.T.A. clearing house in London during April was $17,934,000 (£6,415,000), an increase of $625,000 (£223,500) over the turn over for April, 1952. By offsetting the credit and debit balances of its 35 member airlines, the clearing house was able to eliminate the need for cash payment and foreign exchange premiums of 89.7 per cent of the month's transactions. * * * Elevation at British civil airfields is at present based on the mean elevation of the touch-down points of the runways. As a result of a recent I.C.A.O. agreement, this country is now under an obligation to quote as airfield elevation the highest usable point on the landing area. The effects of this change on altimeter set tings and chart values are discussed in M.C.A. Information Circular No. 68/1953, dated June 17th. * * * From Brazil comes the news that the export/import department has allotted a total exchange of $5 million in two six-monthly quotas, for the import of essential parts and accessories for the aircraft of the country's commercial carriers. * * * A revised form of general declaration has been introduced in the second edition of the I.C.A.O. Annex 9, which comes into force on July 1st. Details are given in M.C.A. Information Circu lar No. 67/1953, dated June 17th. * * * Mokuji Araki, chief of the Japanese Government Aviation Bureau, who is acting as an observer at the I.C.A.O. assembly at Brighton, is believed to be exploring the possibilities of Japan's entry into the organization. * * * Tomorrow, June 27th, is the date of Sabena's first flight between London and Strasbourg, calling at Luxemburg. The flight will be operated as a tourist-class service. * * * All the 37 C-54 aircraft leased by the U.S.A.F. to private operat ing companies in the U.S.A. have been recalled by the Service, it is reported from Washington. Pan American have been operat ing 16 of the aircraft, Trans-World Airlines two, and North West Airlines five. The remainder have been used by eight non- scheduled companies. Increased activity is reflected in the traffic figures for May pub lished by the Paris airports, Orly and Le Bourget. Total aircraft movements amounted to 8,520; passenger movements numbered 156,980 (an increase of 37 per cent over May, 1952); and a 10 per cent increase in freight handled was reported, the total for the month being 2,489 metric tons. * * * Middlesborough Corporation General Purposes Committee decided on June 16th to recommend the Corporation to defer, until further details were available, their decision on a scheme for Teeside local authorities to help finance Greatham Airport, West Hartlepool. Two B.O.A.C. Stratocruiser flights were recently made to carry telegraph equipment and operators of Cable and Wireless, Ltd., from London to Bermuda to augment the telecommunication facilities there during the forthcoming three-power conference.
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