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Aviation History
1960
1960 - 2092.PDF
516 Correspondence The Editor of "Flight" is not necessarily in agreement with the viewsexpressed by correspondents in these columns. Names and addresses of writers, not for publication in detail, must in all cases accompany letters. Curtailed Corporation ! • TV^rR.p.K.FOX,inyourcorrespondencecolumns of September 9,-"-•• objects to BEA's contraction of its full title, so properly commended by Mr Peter Brooks. BEA has, of course, spent many hundreds of thousands ofpounds in advertising its shortened name and it has today become known throughout the world as that of a most enterprising airline.Every time that a "C" is tacked on the end something is taken away from this proud trademark. Moreover, there is the possi-bility of confusion with BOAC. The title BEA is shorter, sweeter and more positive than thefull initials could be, and surely the corporation is entitled to be known by any contraction it prefers—as are PanAm, BP, andBKS, to quote three samples at random. Who normally refers to them as "PAWA Inc.," "TBPCL" or "BKSATL?" It has always been BEA for my money!London Wl PETER G. MASEFIELD The Work of the BIS T THINK that the views expressed by Kenneth Owen (editorial-*- footnote to my letter, Correspondence, August 19) must have come from people unfamiliar with this Society, for they omit anumber of important points: — (1) Our non-professional membership has, in the past, been verylarge and this has been most desirable in the absence of any professional interest in astronautics, for it is only during the lastfew years that the science has become respectable. The non- professional members have financed the relatively small technicalmembership to produce a large number of original papers which have greatly influenced subsequent thought on the subject. (2) The change occurring in our membership grades has beenbrought about by increasing professional interest and the fact that popular and semi-technical news in astronautics is now widelyavailable elsewhere. This has caused the big increase in our professional grades over the past few years and is bound toincrease in the future. However, even at the present time the Society undertakes a dual purpose in so far as it endeavours toreach many people who have a legitimate interest in astronautics, though not in a technical sense, for the Society has a long-standinginterest in the social consequences of spaceflight. (3) The technical standards of the Society have always been ofthe highest, and considerable experience has shown how rapidly individuals change their preconceived notions when they areconfronted with our publications and details of our work. For example, we are increasingly concerned with holding specialistsymposia besides a wide variety of meetings aimed at non-specialist audiences, frequently put on with the co-operation of localorganizations. (4) Our views have also been put forward in official quarters onmore than one occasion. Many of these are listed in a small pamphlet we have produced and which explains fundamentalaims of spaceflight. I shall be glad to send copies of this to any of your readers who might be interested or who might like to see forthemselves copies of our other publications. [The address is 12 Bessborough Gardens, London SW1.—Ed.] These facts alone ought to ensure that the Society's effectivenessis not influenced adversely by a non-professional membership. Of FLIGHT, 23 September course, they may do little to affect preconceived ideas from personswho do not trouble to go into the matter fully, but this is a tribulation which must affect everyone at one time or another; andit is as much a human attribute as the enthusiasm of many non-professional members who have supported us for many yearsand been content to know that they have enabled us to publish material of high quality and content, much of which has withstoodthe years. London, SW1 , L. J. CARTER,Secretary, the British Interplanetary Society BOAC and MEA / T CAN assure the writer of "BOAC 1959-60: a Postscript"A (page 225, Flight, August 12) that no "book-keeping" adjust- ments have been made by MEA to achieve improved results in The improvements and the profit are real enough, with steadyincreases during 1959 in almost every revenue-earning aspect of MEA's activities—Viscount daily utilization up by 25 per cent(it is now running at 9.55 hours, a further increase of 14 per cent for the first six months of 1960 compared with the same periodin 1959); passengers carried (148,253) up by 42 per cent. Other percentage increases for 1959 over 1958 were: Totalrevenue, 29; hours flown, 13; freight carried (tons), 54; excess baggage (tons), 26; mail carried (tons), 42; LTMs (passengerservices), 35.8; revenue per employee, 28; CTMs per employee (passenger services), 23. In fact, since 1955 every statistical item by which an airline'ssuccess and viability can be assessed has shown an increase despite a temporary financial setback caused by the Lebanese crisis of1958. The only declining figure during this period has been the DC-3 utilization—these aircraft are now more or less obsolescentas far as MEA is concerned. In 1959 MEA carried over 32 per cent of all passengers arrivingor leaving Beirut Airport and over 60 per cent of the total number of passengers carried by all Lebanese airlines.All these improvements have been achieved without incurring additional costs. MEA is a low-cost operator—in terms of capacityton-miles in pence, its operating-costs figure of 32.9 was below those of both British corporations, Air France, Sabena, Swissairand KLM, to mention a few carriers whose costs were included in the Report by the Select Committee on Nationalized Industries, It should be emphasized also that MEA provides certain benefitsfor BOAC, including feeder and interline traffic and protection of the corporation's traffic rights in and out of Beirut. Thesebenefits, according to BOAC estimates, are worth over £11 million a year. In addition, MEA has, since 1959, bought over £5j millionworth of British equipment. The recent purchase of Comet 4Cs by MEA will mean a payment to the British aircraft industry ofa further £6 million or so. BOAC, as a partner in MEA is, of course, aware of all thelatter's traffic statistics and of its operating position; but what the corporation shows, or does not show, in its accounts is entirelyits own affair. All the figures mentioned in this letter have been available, and issued, to the Press in this country. The article also states that "a well-run airline should be able toturn its capital over at least twice a year." MEA can certainly do that—and much better. London Wl FRANK O'SHANOHUN, Public Relations Adviser, Middle East Airlines [BOAC's accounts for 1959-60 show that the corporation's position inregard to MEA has improved to the tune of close on £2m. A loss on its investment of £lfm in 1958-59 was converted to a profit of £7'7,OO0in 1959-60. MEA has always argued the propriety of accounting that £ljm as a "loss"—hence our suggestion that not only may MEA'straffic and revenue have improved but that its book-keeping point had been won as well.—Ed.] THE INDUSTRY IN BRIEF SASCO Group announce that Wg Cdr H. G. Cattell, DFC (RAF Retd),MSMA, has become a director of the parent company, Stewart Aeronauti- cal Supply Co Ltd, continuing as general manager of the group; andMr W. H. Frost, AFRAes, has been made a director of Electrocon Ltd, continuing as chief engineer. Mr Ken Oram has been appointed manager of the recently formedgeneral aviation department of de Havilland Aircraft Pty Ltd, Bankstown, NSW. This department will control civil aircraft sales, servicing andspares requirements for the Beechcraft range as well as D.H. Doves, Beavers and Otters. Before joining the company, Mr Oram spent twoyears with Qantas as technical training controller. Further price reductions for wrought titanium announced by I.C.I.Metals Division bring the figures to well under half the levels in 1954, when I.C.I, first began selling the material. The reductions becomeeffective on November 1, when typical prices per lb will be (today's price in brackets): lin hot-rolled plate, 49s (54s); 20 s.w.g. alloy sheet,135s (150s); 8in bar and billet, 48s (55s); extrusions, 90s (105s). Under an agreement between Plannair Ltd and the Lear-Romecdivision of Lear Inc, Elyria, Ohio, the American company will be able to manufacture the full range of Plannair blowers for marketing in theUSA and Canada. Dowty Group Ltd have acquired Designex (Coventry) Ltd, a companyspecializing in. the design and manufacture of multi-spindle tooling and special purpose equipment. The chairman is Mr J. C. G. Wegerif andthe managing director Mr E. G. Gibbons. No 10 of the 21 new instruments which Southern Instruments Ltd(Frimley Road, Camberley, Surrey) are introducing to celebrate their 21st year is the M1149 portable tachometer. Two versions are available,covering 0 to 30,000 r.p.m. and 30,000 to 300,000 r.p.m. respectively. Simmonds Aerocessories Pty Ltd has been renamed Firth ClevelandPty Ltd, and Mr J. R. Burt has been elected chairman. The company will be responsible for the manufacture and marketing in Australia ofamong other products—Simmonds self-locking nuts and Spire Speed fastenings.
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