AIR TRANSPORT NEWS
Page 34
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HEAVY TRAFFIC AND NIGHT FLYING BY HILLMAN.
There are signs of considerable activity at the Romford aerodrome of Hillmans Airways, Ltd. In the week to April 6 the company carried 175 singlejourney passengers on the RomfordParis line. This constitutes a record. By comparison, the August holiday week-end, 1933, yielded 111 passengers, Christmas week 101 and Easter week, 1934 (to Good Friday) 145 passengers.
During the week charter flights involving night flying were made to Paris and to Hayle in Cornwall. A day flight was made to Colchester.
Airwork School Figures : March.
March flying hours in the Airwork, Ltd., school at Heston Airport show an increase of 71 per cent, over the same period last year.
New Aerodromes Listed.
Air Ministry Notice to Airmen No. 24 .of April 6 calls attention to new civil air stations at Campbeltown, Carlisle, Cirencester, Inverness, Leamington and St. Albans, also to works in progress at Brooklands, Croydon, Feltham (Hanworth Park), Harmondsworth (Heathrow), Hatfield, Heston, Norwich, Nottingham (Tollerton) and Renfrew. Clacton aerodrome is closed as from April 12.
Empire Mails Accelerated.
Beginning with the service which left London on April 11, the EnglandSouth Africa air-mail service of Imperial Airways, Ltd., has been accelerated by one day, Cape Town being reached in nine days. The Malaya service also is accelerated, starting with to-morrow's departure from London, Singapore being reached in eight days.
Developments at a Welsh Spa.
The possible development of Llanclrindod Wells as a flying centre, referred to previously in this paper, again becomes prominent this spring, several visits to the private aerodrome adjoining the Rock Hotel having been made by air. Mr. Frank Arthur, the proprietor, is keen to further aviation interests.
Unsubsidized Mails in Australia.
Western Australian Airways, Ltd., on April 4, inaugurated the first unsubsidized air-mail and passenger service in Australia, a 1,500-mile line between Adelaide and Perth. The subsidy for this route expired a few days ago.
Progress at Aberdeen Aerodrome.
It is reported that Dyce Aerodrome, Aberdeen, will be ready for use in June. It will have an area of 130 acres and A32 runs varying between 600 yards and 1,000 yards. Hunters, Ltd., Chester, is levelling and resurfacing the ground, and J. Bisset and Sons, Ltd., Aberdeen, is conducting building operations in connection with the clubhouse, power house, etc.
The Prime Minister and Lord Londonderry at M.S.A.F. Air-line Inauguration.
At Speke Airport, Liverpool, on April. 6, the Prime Minister, the Secretary of State for Air and other notable people attended the inauguration of the London-Glasgow and LondonBelfast services of Midland and Scot tish Air Ferries, Ltd. Mr. Ramsay MacDonald christened the new Avro '642 aircraft (described fully in this paper last week) The Marchioness of Londonderry." At a luncheon the Lord Mayor of Liverpool welcomed the visitors. Mr. MacDonald referred to Mr. John Sword as a friend of his who had shown great enterprise, and he spoke of the immense future of aviation.
Lord Londonderry said that, given a fair field and no favour, Mr. Sword should carry his project to a great height of success. Mr. Sword, pressed to speak, said that he knew the difficulties he must face, for on a stateaided basis his problems would be easily solved. He emphasized that this was "a one-man show."
His entire fleet of about .17 aircraft made an impressive display at the airport, and large crowds watched and took part in the flying. The Avro 642 carried guests back to London.
The new services are now in operation, the London agents being Hillman's Airways, Ltd. Rumford is the London terminal.
SUCCESSFUL THROUGH BOOKINGS BY PROVINCIAL AIRWAYS.
In the week to April 8 Provincial Airways, Ltd., flew 7,400 aircraft-miles on its Croydon-Southampton-Haldon-Plymouth twice-daily air service. Through bookings, in conjunction with other companies, were made to Manchester,
the Isle of Wight and Jersey. A through journey from Torquay to Paris was made in 4+ hours, centre to centre. Several Atlantic passengers were picked up at Plymouth in response to wireless messages from ships. The services were matntained in indifferent weather. Air Commodore P. F. M. Fellowes, who led the Mount Everest Flight Expedition, and Squadron Leader D. Gilley, D.F.C., have joined the board.
Midnight Charter to Paris.
A few days ago, in responk to an evening telephone call, the Ford Trmotor of British Air Navigation Co., Ltd., left Heston Airport at midnight in unfavourable weather and conveyed five passengers to Paris. The machine has its own landing light.
Heston Firm's Fleet Increase.
Messrs. Wrightson and Pearse, Heston, hope to increase their fleet to three wireless-equipped Dragons, mainly for running a three-hourly service to Le Touquet at week-ends, etc. A subsidia, .company will take over the self-flyinehire business.
Proposed New Belfast Airport.
The Belfast Harbour Commissioners have instructed Messrs. Norman, Mentz and Dawbarn, Heston, the approved consultants, to examine the recently reclaimed land at Sydenham, and to furnish a detailed report, with plans and estimates, for a fully licensed airport.
Another Spartan for Abroad.
Another Spartan Cruiser left Hestort Airport on April 5 for Yugoslavia piloted by a representative of the Aeroput line. The company took delivery of a previous Cruiser on September 25, 1933.
Aerodrome News from the North.
At the invitation of Sunderland Town Council, Sit Alan Cobham is to visit the town to inspect likely sites for a proposed aerodrome. A West Hartlepool committee is recommending a site at Greatham.
Heston Navigation Trials Cancelled.
Airwork, Ltd., has found it necessary, owing to " recent developments in connection with new air-transport companies now in formation," to abandon the Heston Air Navigation Trials which were arranged for May 26.