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Aviation History
1963
1963 - 0009.PDF
FLIGHT International, \3 January 1963 Two Alaskan airlines are now operating turboprop-powered Pilatus Turbo Porters (Turbomeca Astazou I IE). This one, for Wein Alaska, is operating from Fairbanks; the other, with Northern Consolidated Airlines, operates from Anchorage. Demonstrations were recently given to the US Army and the FAA at Washington Dulles Airport AIR FERRY FARES UP LAST summer, when increased vehicle-ferry fares were predicted in these pages (August 2 issue, page 156), it was suggested that such increases—coming soon after the merger between Silver City and Channel Air Bridge—might present something of a public relations problem. The increases have now appeared in the 1963 timetables, though no public announcement has been made by British United Air Ferries. The rises are much higher than expected—up to 20 and 30 per cent on typical car fares (except those to the Channel Islands), and up to 8 per cent on single passenger fares. The increases, agreed at the IATA traffic conference in Arizona, are effective from January 1. Air Ferry fares have not been increased for four years, and both Silver City and Channel Air Bridge managed to hold the line when there was a general increase in European fares in October 1961. The big increases now applied may well be regarded as a disappoint ing outcome of the merger and the beyond-all-expectations results of the first season of Carvair services (see below). Suggestions that British United Air Ferries are taking advantage of their new mono poly to shove up prices are bound to be made; on the other side of the coin, however, is the fact that Silver City and Channel Air Bridge competed not so much with one another as with the boats. According to a British Railways spokesman, there are to be no increases in vehicle fares across the Channel in the coming season. TWELVE PER CENT IN 1963 AIR traffic growth rate in 1962 picked up again to a more normal level after the unsatisfactory rate achieved in 1961. Preliminary figures for the year just ended published at the turn of the year by the International Civil Aviation Organization show that total world passenger-miles increased by 12 per cent, compared with 7 per cent in the previous year—12 per cent being the actual average growth rate for the period 1952-62, as is apparent from a study of the ICAO figures just published (passenger-miles in 1952 were 25,000m compared with passenger-miles in 1962 of 81,500m). Cargo ton miles showed the biggest increase since 1950, when of course freight traffic was only a quarter of what it is today. Cargo ton-miles shot up 19 per cent in 1962, due largely to the new reduced rates, especially over the North Atlantic. Mail traffic growth rate declined a little, from 18 per cent in 1961 to 13 per cent in 1962. Four other interesting statistics from ICAO's provisional figures: average number of passengers per aeroplane is now 40, compared with 23 ten years ago; average speed, 258 m.p.h. compared with 183 m.p.h.; mileage flown per passenger, 662 compared with 547; and total number of passengers flown was 123m compared with 111m in 1961 and 46m in 1952. Footnote In a year-end statement Sir William Hildred of IATA predicts for 1963 a 13 per cent passenger growth-rate and 20 per cent for freight. Preliminary results of vehicle ferry traffic carried in 1962 are now available, and standing out dramatically is the way in which the new long-haul Carvair routes to Basle and Geneva, starting in April, and to Strasbourg, opened in June, have exceeded all British United Air Ferries' hopes. In the first eight months of operation, April-November, the traffic carried exceeded survey forecast by 25 per cent. The actual figures were as follows:— Cars, 3,931; Motor cycles, 165; Passengers, 10,611; Cargo, tons, 166; Sector flights, 982. For the record, total air ferry traffic in 1962 was as follows:— Cars Motor cycles Passengers Cargo, tons Sector flights Air Ferry 137,730 4.182 425,333 22.800 63,200 Supplementary Passengers 138,380 Total Passengers 563,613 A remarkable comparison may be drawn between the way car ferry traffic has built up compared with the original build up of the first Silver City car ferry services. It was not until the third year of Silver City operations, 1950, that cars carried reached the 4,000 mark, yet this figure has almost been attained in the first year of Carvair services, notwithstanding the scepticism with which they were regarded by some experts in the industry. The director and general manager of British United Air Ferries, Mr D. A. Why- brow, feels that he can confidently predict that 15 years' hence the number of cars flying longer routes will probably approach the number that flew on the short routes in 1962. By 1968 it is possible that the British United Air Ferries' fleet will comprise as many as 22 Carvairs serving ten new points, by which time the Aviation Traders' project for "doing a Carvair" to surplus DC-6s or DC-7s may have reached fruition. Bournemouth Air Taxi and the ATLB The Air Transport Licen sing Board has given notice that it proposes to revoke the Bourne mouth - Sandown licence held by Bournemouth Air Taxi Ltd. World Airport Statistics A new edition to the range of statistical digests published by ICAO is "Airport Traffic," Digest No 89, available from HM Stationery Office, London SE1, price 21s, reference T/Pl/1400. Facts and figures on movements of aircraft, passengers, freight and mail at 86 airports are reported by 31 States RAeS Air Transport at Oxford The Royal Aeronautical Society's eighth annual air transport course at Oriel College, Oxford, will take place from March 24 to April 11. Admission is not limited to airline or aircraft industry employees, and is open to other appli cants at the discretion of the RAeS. Fee is £95. Particulars are available from the Secretary, Air Transport Course, 4 Hamilton Place, London Wl (Grosvenor 3515). BEA and Gatwick Following further discussions with the Mini stry of Aviation BEA have decided not to withdraw all their services from Gatwick Airport, as announced in November, but will operate a reduced number of flights, probably about 20 per week, from the airport to the Channel Islands. Staff will be reduced to about one- third of the present 150. In winter the 50 staff retained would handle diversions and flights for other airlines. BO AC Checks Capacity In 1963, according to BO AC'S managing director Sir Basil Smallpeice, the corporation will produce 901m ctm in 1963 compared with 894 in 1961. Western routes will maintain their output at about the same level, southern routes will reduce theirs marginally by 2 per cent, and eastern routes will put on a small increase of about 4 per cent. Additional deployment of 707s on eastern routes will call for utilization of only 16 or 17 Comet 4s compared with 19 last summer.
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