AIR TRANSPORT NEWS
Page 53
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STRICT CONTROL OF CIVIL AIRCRAFT TO CONTINUE.
Important recommendations are made in the report of the Committee on the Control of. Private Flying, presided over by Lord Gore11. Copies of this report, incorporating a memotandum by the Secretary of State for Air, are obtainable (price Is. 3d.) from H.M. Stationery Office.
It is considered that there would be political advantages in transferring the administration of civil aviation from the Ministry to a civil department of State, but, at present, technical considerations preclude such action. Meanwhile, it is recommended that the Civil Aviation Directorate should he made as self-contained as possible within the Air Ministry.
The Air Council accepts a recommendation that a certificate of airworthiness should continue to be re. quiredfor aircraft engaged on regular transport services, air-taxi, joy-riding and training work. The Council also accepts in principle a recommendation that the control of airworthiness on civil aircraft should be devolved from the Ministry to the Joint Aviation Advisory Committee of-Lloyd's Register and the British Corporation Register, reconstituted as a statutory authority and renamed the Air Registration Board.
Although it is recommended that the Air Ministry should not prescribe the detailed requirements to which aircraft should be built, the Air Council considers that the present practice should be continued in the case of the larger passenger aircraft used on regular airtransport services. The Council also agrees that inventors should be free to test experimental aeroplanes, provided that they are not flown to the common danger. Comprehensive recommendations are also made concerning thirdparty insurance.
In the memorandum of the Secretary of State for Air, it is pointed out that a committee of departmental officials was appointed to study the whole question of the regulations governing civil aviation. Generally, that committee's findings have been endorsed by Lord Gorell's committee, which was formed as an independent body.
It is stated that British air-transport policy has been directed throughout to commercial development for pacific Imperial purposes, and at no time has any attempt been made to build up, under the guise of civil air transport, a fleet of uneconomic dimensions intended for military use in times of war.
Slotted Wings to Increase Speed.
A Handley Page Gugnunc machine incorporating the slotted-wing device and equipped with an Armstrong Siddeley Mongoose engine has been added to the aeronautical exhibits at the Science Museum, London.
Mr. F. Handley Page stated, on the occasion of the presentation of the aircraft last week, that, although developed principally to increase stability, the slotted-wing device had enabled top speed to be raised without unduly increasing landing speed. The employment of this device would greatly increase the speed of commercial aircraft.
In the absence of Lord Londonderry, Sir Christopher Bullock, Permanent Secretary to the Air Ministry, made a speech and said that in 34 other countries the slotted-wing device was used on civil and military aircraft Birkett's Activities Last Week.
During the week ended July 21, the aircraft of Birkett Air Service, Ltd., covered 6,479 miles, carrying 53 passengers, on private-charter flights to various parts of the British Isles.
Hillman's Traffic Returns.
During the week ended July 21, Hillman's Airways, Ltd., carried 154 singlefare passengers on -the service from Essex Airport to Paris, whilst 30 singlefare passengers travelled by the London-Liverpool-Isle of Man-Belfast service.
M.P.s at Bristol Works.
Travelling in an Imperial Airways Short Scylla four-engined machine, about 30 Members of Parliament visited the Bristol works of the Bristol Aeroplane Co., last Monday, as the guests of that concern and the Air League of the British Empire.
Hanworth Aerodrome for Sale.
Hanworth Aerodrome (London Air Park), near IA'eltham, Middlesex, is to be sold as the result of an order in the High Court by Mr. Justice Clauson. The site is one of 190 acres and includes a clubhouse, hangars, workshops and houses, Tenders have to be delivered to Master Hawkins, in Mr. Justice Clauson's Chambers at the High Court, by August 2.
1,545 Passengers on Solent Ferry.
Good traffic returns continue to be received from Portsmouth, Southsea and Isle of Wight Aviation, Ltd. During the week ended July 21, the company carried 1,545 passengers on the Portsmouth-Ryde-Shanklin route, and 140 persons from London to the Island. Special charter flights were also made to Glastonbury, Rochester, Grimsby and Dorchester.
On August 1 the company will put into service one of the new Airspeed Envoy machines, which will be used chiefly on the Heston-Ryde service and• will reduce the journey time by about 15 minutes,
Stapleford Abbots (Arnolds Farm) Airport has been approved as a customs aerodrome. ANOTHER RAILWAY AIR SERVICE: BIRMINGHAM-COWES.
Railway Air Services, Ltd., announces that on July 30 it will inaugurate a new service between Birmingham and Cowes, to be operated by standard Dragon aeroplanes which will make the flight in about two hours. For the time being there will be two services daily in each direction, one return service in the morning and another in the afternoon. The machines will call at Bristol and Southampton.
At Birmingham, connection will be made with the Plymouth-Liverpool service operated by the same company, and with the London-Belfast-Glasgow line which is to be started shortly.
In addition to the three services to which reference has been made above, Railway Air Services, Ltd., is interested in the London (Croydon)-Cowes service operated by Spartan Air Lines, Ltd.
Swansea Aerodrome Plan Ratified.
Swansea 'Borough Council has confirmed the Parliamentary Committees plans for an aerodrome for the town.
Messrs. Norman Muntz and Dawbarn have been appointed to recommend a site or sites for the buildings of the aerodrome and to prepare the development scheme, including the question of making provision for the accommodation of seaplanes. There is also a proposal, mooted outside the council, for a joint aerodrome scheme between Swansea and Llanelly councils, or by private interests.
New Airspeed Company.
Airspeed (1934), Ltd., The Airport, Portsmouth, has been formed to acquire as a going concern, as froth. April 30 last, the business and goodwill of Airspeed. Ltd„ the well-known aircraftmanufacturing company. The directors are Lord Grimthorpe (chairman) , Sir Alan Cobham, K.B.E,, A.F.C., Sir P. Wigham Richardson, Bart., and Messrs. L. Tetley, N. S. Norway, F.R.Ae.S., A. H. Tiltrnan, F.R.Ae.S., C. S. Swan. and G. Wigham Richardson. The secretary is Mr. M. Vincent, S.F.Int.A.C.
Airport at Ringway for -Manchester.
Further to the paragraph in our issue dated Tidy 13, the Air Ministry has advised Manchester Corporation to purchase a site for a new aerodrome at Ringway, Cheshire, which, the Ministry states, "appears to be capable of development into an airport suitable for the requirements of a large and important district such as Manchester."
The scheme, which involves the purchase of 664 acres of agricultural land, was submitted to the city council on Wednesday. The airport is expected to cost £179,295.