AIR TRANSPORT NEWS
Page 62
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
NATIONAL PLAN FOR INTERNAL SERVICES.
A.DELEGATION from the Aero.M. drome Owners Association was recently received by Lord Londonderry, Secretary of State for Air, and requested that the Air Ministry should give a lead in the preparation of a national plan for the arterial air routes of Great Britain.
A pnaposal was put to the Air Ministry by the Aerodromes Advisory Board, some months ago, and it appeared that the Board would be charged with preparing the plan. The Royal Aeronautical Society has, however, now withdrawn its four delegates on the Board, which is, therefore, left with practically no support from aviation auspices. The Board incorporates many technical societies, the experience of which, whilst useful in an advisory capacity, hardly fits the Board for a task of this order.
A statement was made in the House of Commons, on April 15, that the Board is to be entrusted with preparing a survey, provided that it cab undertake to complete it within a given time—the first stage within three months, Probably the actual work will be given to a recognized firm of consultants.
NEW BLACKPOOL CONNECTIONS.
THE new time-table of the LondonGlasgow trunk route of Railway Air Services, Ltd., started on April 15. The D.H.86 leaves Glasgow at 8.45 a.m. and calls at Belfast, Liverpool, Manchester and Birmingham, reaching Croydon at 1.5 p.m.
It leaves Croydon at 3.10 p.m., makes the same calls and reaches Glasgow (Renfrew) at 7.30 p.m. A Dragon connects Manchester with the Isle of Man as a,. feeder service, and Blackpool (Squire's Gate) is included in this journey. The feeder service is run for the London, Midland and Scottish Railway Co. and the Isle of Man Steam Packet Co., Ltd., and is to be called the Manx Airway.
The London-Glasgow fares are £6 single, £10 return ; the London-Manchester .(or Liverpool) fares are £3 B44 single, £4 10s. return ; the ManchesterIsle of Man fares are 35s. single, 60s. return, which are about the same as those of Blackpool and West Coast Air Services, Ltd., with which the railways are working in friendly cooperation.
• NEW LIFE IN THE MINISTRY. WE learn that Mr. Ivor McClure, VV who, for some years, has been in charge of the aviation department of the Automobile Association and has built up a remarkably efficient organization, has been appointed as Operations Adviser to the Director-General of Civil Aviation.
NEW SOUTHEND AERODROME.
ON Saturday last, we attended the house warming of the Southend Flying Club, a proprietary concern financed by Southend Flying Services, Ltd. The large and well-built clubhouse is situated oncthe.new Southend Aerodrome, the site of which is the old R.F.C. ground which was used during the war by three training squadrons and a fighting squadron, and has now been bought by the municipality. When completed, it will cover
1,200 yds. by 1,000 yds. It was ploughed in 1919, but has been smoothed out and sown with grass. It is close to the main arterial road, and the projected arterial road from Southend to Colchester will just touch it, whilst the L.N.E.R. has acquired a site there to: a new station.
The President is Councillor G. E. Weber, whose energy and initiative in developing the club were recognized by the presentation, on Saturday, of a gold cigarette case, and a portrait of himself for hanging in the club. The flying instructor is Mr. A. M. Glover.
Hangar accommodation is provided
for 10 light aircraft folded. The present machines comprise two Cadets, a D.H. Moth and A Scion.
EQUIPMENT FOR INTERNAL MAIL SERVICES.
NMEWS published in The Commercial 11Motor, in the past few months, has made it clear that when we obtain cruising speeds of about 200 m.p.h. and properly organized radio traffic control and ground services on the arterial air routes of Great Britain, the Postmaster-General will be able to make considerable use of air services for firstclass mail, especially when all-weather and night flying is established.
The quick flight recently made by the de Havilland Comet from Croydon to Paris (Le Bourget) suggests that it may not be long before a suitable machine is available. The Comet lands rather quickly for English aerodromes in their present state, but the municipal development of big airports for the larger towns is progressing.
On April 11 the Comet covered the 205 miles in 54 minutes from control tower to control tower, which means an average of about 228 m.p.h., and that in distinctly bad weather conditions. The only passenger carried was a representative of The Commercial Motor.
This machine, with modified tanks, could carry a pilot and navigator-radio operator, several hundredweight of mails and enough petrol for 1,000 miles, although in its present form the stowage space would be inadequate. The Comet flies nearly 10 miles per gallon of fuel.
SERVICE FOR ALDERNEY.
WE learn from Jersey Airways, Ltd., VV that the aerodrome on .Alderney will probably be ready for machines to call there on request from June 1. This is the date on which the company starts its twice-daily summer service. More than two services daily cannot be run this year, because the Jersey aerodrome will not be ready, and tides restrict the use of the sands at St. Aubin's Bay.