The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-04-23
LANDING FIELDS
ARE IN DEMAND
FUTURE OF COMMERCIAL AVIATION
nE5ENos ON OPPORTUNITY GIVEN
TO PLANES AND PILOTS.

Imagine the giant Leviathan having to
search up and down our coast line try
ing 10 find a place to anchor in safety
The chances of the Leviathan surveying
would be one TO a thousand. Yet this is
the same condition which faces Aviation
in the form of landing fields. What mar
Dor OF New York means to the Levla-
than the landing fields IN cities mean
n the future progress of commercial
aerial Transportation. We can have no
real progress in aviation until we pave
the way to safer flights and that depends
on municipal landing fields, which in
turn depends upon the support given by
cities and their State Legislation. Air
craft manufacturers at this stage of
nrogress in aviation would rather receive
news of the building of new landing fields
than to receive an order for aeropianes.
Who viii build these fields? So far the
air service has built number Ior tram
ing purposes, but they are situated as far
as possible from towns TO Keep framing
airmen from temptations Of CITY me
Commercially but few of these fields are
of particular value. If we are 10 nave
landing fields today they must De near
big cities. Aircraft manufacturers have
tried to build several fields. a lew
scattered fields are being maintained by
their agents. But where we neea the fieids
fiids are being maintained by Ihler
agents. But where we need the flelds
most we haven't any available. The Air
craft builder should not be called upon
TO build a flying station anymore than
we should ask our automobile manufac-
turers to build the loads. Why should
try to combat such odds? Isn's it
municipal, state or a federal duty TO
provide a harbor for the airplane or air
ship where khe line of flight goes over
their Jurisdiction. A few and growing
number of cities fortunately realize the
future of aviation. Here and there We
find movement to foster the new
science.
But scattered fields here and there win
not do. The Air Service is in position
to lay out routes, throughout the entire
United States and has sufficient data
on hand to help municipalities to estab-
lsh fields. In fact tentatively speaking
a greater part of air routes have already
been laid out upon maps, all that is really
needed in this respect is action on the
part of the state and city governments.
NO doubt when such action is taken,
federal support viii be given, by provid-
ing proper and standardized hangers. A
charge should be made against every
plane using the field to help pay for its
upkeep. 1t is cheaper to land on a good
field and pay a nominal sum than to take
chances of breaking the landing gear on
poor field and endangering lives of
passengers.
The biggest drawback to aviation in
America today is the utter lack of good
landing fields. Once established, aerial
lines will be inaugurated everywhere.
The modern limited railroad train will
give away 70 the dlrpIanS ana arSnlp as
the busy mans vehicle. Cities will be
linked closer together by many hours
than ever before. The wireless telephone
will allow the passenger to talk TO his
office during flight. This is an advan-
tage which the train travel does not en-
JOY today, and is indica ton of the
advantage of commercial aerial trans
portation.
How are we to get such fields? The
answer is simple over $4,000 trained
pilots and equally as many observers and
former ground Air Service officers are
scattered throughout the United States as
Wen as numbers of well organized Aero
clubs, and Aeronautical Engineering So
cleueS. If these men organize them
selves thoroughly and viii lay out a COM
prehensive program on the problem of a
laying out landing field in their city
In conjunction with the Chamber of Com
merce, merchants and manufacturers IS
sociatlons, etc, and a feasible plan pre-
sented to city and state governments
with the solid backing Of business interest
OF their city behind them, there is but
little doubt but what they win succeed
The Director of Air Service will he
glao TO furnish any information on the
subject available, and will willingly CO.
operate with the cities and state govern
ments for establishing municipal land
ing fields to the best of his ability