Air Transport News
Page 54
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FIRE-STATION DRILL FOR AIR AMBULANCES.
THE Air Ambulance Detachment of the British Red Cross Society gave a demonstration at Croydon, last Saturday, of the quick turn-out of an air ambulance in emergency: It was arranged in conjunction with Air Dispatch, Ltd., and Commercial Air Hire, Ltd., associated Croydon companies, which have a detachment of pilots and engineers trained and ready for work under the auspices of the British Red Cross Society. They also have a Dragon aeroplane, G-ACBW, arranged to carry a stretcher.
Lt.-Col. E. M. Cowell, D.S.O., B.R.C.S., who originated the scheme in 1931 and obtained Air Ministry approval in May, 1933. was present, and Mr. S. J. Noel-Brown, of General Aircraft, Ltd., who is a commandant of the British Red Cross and assistant county secretary for Surrey, was in charge of proceedings.
When the alarm bell rang in the hangar, engineers wheeled out the Dragon and one of them drove oft in the company's Chevrolet 12-seater coach (supplied by Messrs. Disposals, 297, Brixton Road, London, S.W.9) to fetch the crew. It returned four minutes later and the aeroplane was started up.
Five minutes later the Dennis ambulance of the Croydon Ambulance Service arrived with the patient and a V.A.D. nurse, qualified for the work by five hours of flying experience. Two minutes rater the Dragon and its load taxied out to take off, so that 13 minutes after the alarm it was in the air.
The Hon. Mrs. Victor Bruce, a director of both the companies, said that they have recently made ambulance flights to Lausanne, Liverpool and E40 Plymouth, and have one booked for Nice. The companies undertake to turn out an air ambulance in 15 minutes at any time of the day or night.
ADVANCED BLIND-FLYING TRAINING.
W/E learn that a Gipsy I Moth, with VI' hood and instruments for blindflying instruction, has been bought by
Spartan Air Lines, Ltd. It will be used during the winter to give the company's pilots more advanced instruction in instrument flying than is demanded by law in the require:. meats for commercial pilots' licences. Mr. John Pugh, who for about 13 months up to September, was chief pilot on the dawn newspaper service from Croydon to Paris, will act as instructor. INTERNAL MAIL CONTRACT CHANGES HANDS.
THE contract for carrying unsurcharged mails between London, Liverpool, Belfast and Glasgow has been awarded to Railway Air Services, Ltd., as from December 2. This contract originated on August 20, 1934, when the same company started a mail and passenger service along the route.
It was a short-term contract, and when it fell due for renewal, tenders were invited, as the result of which Hillman's Airways, Ltd., was awarded the contract from December 1 last year. The Hillman Company has carried the mails daily for exactly 12 months and now, the contract having again become available for tenders, Railway Air Services, Ltd., has won it back.
AN AERODROME FOR AMERSHAM.
JVERSHA:1.1 District Council has been considering proposals for establishing an aerodrome, and seems to have made the mistake of approving plans without consulting Chalfont St. Giles Parish Council. On November 20, Amersham Council apologized for the oversight. The council has decided to reconsider the matter.
An aerodrome at Amersham would be useful for several big industrial towns in the neighbourhood, including Watford and high Wycombe.
AIR EXHIBITION IN LONDON.
riN Thursday, December 5, the Secre tary of State for Air will open the Empire's Airway Exhibition, at the Science Museum, South Kensington, London. It will be open to the public (admission free) from December 6 to January 31. The Exhibition has been organized by Imperial Airways, Ltd., • to present as much information as possible about the Imperial air service.
Models, maps and photographs of modern airports, working models of wind tunnels and tanks for testing hulls, also sections showing how aeroengines, land-planes and flying boats are built, and explanations of present methods of air-traffic control, will be among the more interesting features.