AIR• TRANSPORT NEWS
Page 49
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RAILWAY AIR-MAIL SERVICES INAUGURATED.
The new air-mail service, operated by Railway Air Services, Ltd., between London, Birmingham, Manchester, the Isle of Man, Belfast and Glasgow, was duly inaugurated on August 20. Unfortunately, a depression, accompanied by uncommonly strong gales reaching at times 80 m.p.h., was passing across the north-west part of the British Isles during the day, and two de Havilland Express air liners (four Gipsy Six engines) which left Glasgow at ,9.15 a.m. had to abandon their journey to London after .flying to Belfast and Manchester.
Sir Harold Hartley, chairman, and Wing, Cdr. A. H. Measures, superintendent, of Railway Air Services, Ltd., were on board one of the machines, and were awaited at Croydon by a party of important officials.
The ceremony at Croydon of receiving the first mail bag had to be abandoned, and, instead, the ceremony of sending '61f the first Mail in the reverse direction was carried out. The -departure from Croydon is at 3.10 p.m. daily. Brig.-Gen. Sir Frederick Williamson, Director of Postal Services, handed the first mail bag to Capt. J. W. Harris, R.N.R., marine superintendent of the London. Midland and Scottish Railway, who deputized for Sir Harold Hartley. The mails were sent off in the Westland Wessex G—AAGW, the machine which the Great Western Railway Co. used all last summer on the Plymouth-Birmingham line.
The critics are apt to point to the failure on August 20 as a fair indication of the unreliability of flying in Great Britain. They would be better advised to draw their conclusion from the first 12 months' statistics.
Municipal Aerodromes Up to Date.
On June 30 there were 19 towns in Great Britain possessing licensed municipal aerodromes, namely, Blackpool, Bristol, Cardiff, Carlisle, Doncaster, Hull, Inverness, Ipswich, Leeds-Bradford, Liverpool, Manchester, Norwich, Nottingham, Plymouth, Portsmouth, Renfrew, Southampton, Stokeon-Trent and Walsall. Six further towns had purchased sites, namely, Brighton-Hove-Worthing, Hastings, Leicester, Newcastle-on-Tyne, Rochester and Southport.
Eleven more towns were considering the purchase of sites, and five (Basingstoke, Blythe, Burton, Rotherham and Skegness) had rest rved sites in their town-planning schemes. Moreover, 87 municipalities had, by June 30, had sites inspected, arid 71 other authorities had displayed some interest in the provision of aerodromes.
The municipal aerodromes licensed since February, 1933 (i.e., in a period of increased municipal interest in avia
tion), are those at Carlisle, Doncaster, Inverness, Norwich, Renfrew and Walsall. The new sites purchased. during this period include those at Brighton (with Hove and Worthing), Hastings, Newcastle, Rochester and Southport.
In February, 1933, there were 13 licensed municipal aerodromes, five purchased. sites and nine sites reserved in town-planning schemes, making a total of 27, against the present comparable figure of 30. The increase is WA big, but there is a large number of negotiations on foot, of which several will materialize shortly.
Spithead Ferry: 2,563 Passengers.
In the, week to August 16, Portsmonth. Southsea and Isle of Wight Aviation, Ltd., carried 2,563 passengers between Portsmouth, Ryde and ShankIM, also 156 passengers. between London and the Isle of Wight.
Radio Masts at Portsmouth.
In Notice to Airmen No. 71, of August 1, the Air Ministry states that three radio masts, 70 ft. high, are being erected near the aerodrome buildings on the south boundary of Portsmouth Airport. Until permanent obstruction lights can be fitted, the masts will be marked with oil lamps.
Good Traffic on Spartan Line.
According to reliable reports, traffic figures on the London-Isle of Wight air service, which is operated by Spartan Air Lines, Ltd., in conjunction with the Southern Railway Co. and Railway Air Services, Ltd., have shown a considerable change for the better since the fares were reduced.
The companies concerned are not willing, at present, to publish statistics of traffic carried, but it is known that duplication and even triplication of departures on this line is now quite common at the week-ends, and that even the mid-week traffic is satisfactory. Mr. W. D. L. Roberts continues to manage the line from 53, Parliament Street, London, SAV.1.
Wireless for Portsmouth Airport.
Representatives of Portsmouth Corporation have interviewed the Deputy Director of Civil Aviation concerning the proposal to install wireless-transmitting and receiving apparatus at the airport. The Air Ministry is prepared to provide portable equipment, the transmitter being mounted upon a motor trailer. It was estimated that the cost of maintenance, with two operators, would be £700-£1,000 a year.
Portsmouth Corporation is recommended to contribute £100 to the cost of maintenance during the experimental period of a year. and a sum equal to 12 per cent, of the additional expense if more than two operators be required. INTERNATIONAL UNION FOR AIRCRAFT INSURERS.
The International Union of Aviation Insurers, which has recently been formed, has as its principal object the avoidance of the possibility of conflicting courses of action by leading insurance companies when dealing with aircraft matte's. Attention will also be given to legislative affairs.
In some countries third-party insurance in connection with aircraft is compulsory, whereas in others it is not. Again, the insurance companies in each country will, so far as is practicable, take care of the interests of those in other countries.
It may happen that an aeroplane, as the result of an accident to it while on foreign soil, may be detained in that country pending investigation or other procedure arising from the accident. The representative of the Union in the country where the accident has happened will, so far as is practicable, act for the foreign company with which the machine is insured, to facilitate the discharge of obligations to passengers and goods which were being conveyed, and will look after the aeroplane and the employees of the operating com pany. i The first conference was held n Lon. don. Others will be held at fairly frequent intervals in the various countries concerned. A fact of particular interest transpired. It appears that this country is naturally and logically the one in which such a project should be inaugurated, because it takes a leading part in aircraft insurance throughout 'the world. An insurance company abroad will make out the policy, but almost invariably reinsures, so that up to 70 per cent, of the risk and, of course, of the premium, comes to Great Britain.
Vacancies for Boys in the R.A.F.
For the scheme of expansion of the Royal Mr Force, wIlich was recently announced, about 500 apprentices will be required in January, 1935. They will be entered partly by competitive examination and partly by "direct entry." The skilled trades open to apprentices are those of fitter, wireless operator-mechanic, and instrument maker. Apprentices complete 12 years' service from the age of 18.
Examination candidates, for whom there are not sufficient vacancies as aircraft apprentices, may be invited by the Air Ministry to apply for consideration under the new "boyentrant " scheme for training as armourers, photographers, or wireless operators. Full information can be obtained from the Secretary, Air Ministry (Aircraft Apprentices Department), Gwydyr House, Whitehall, London, S.W.1, and from the headmasters of most schools.