The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1926-07-15
C0MMERCIAL
' AVIATION TO
BE GIVEN AID
Weather Bureau to Establish
Fl Additional Pilot Bal
loon Stations

Washington, d. g., July 15.-1n-
cludcd in the deficiency bill just
passed by the Goth congress is an
appropriation Of $75,OOO for the
weather bureau Of the United
States department Of agriculture
for establishing and maintaining 81
additional pilot balloon stations at
certain points along civil airways,
including those operated by and for
the postofficc department. This
bill supplements the air commerce
act approved May 20, 1926. which
specifies that it shall be the duty
Of the secretary Of commerce tn
make recommendations to the sec
rotary Of agriculture rs TO the
necessary meteorological service"
along civil! airways.
The deficiency bill also provides
funds for the use Of the depart
mcnt of commerce in connection
with this work, and the two depart
Sncnts will cooperate closely in
carrying on the service. The
weather bureau is to furnish such
weather reports, forecasts, warn
ings and adviccs as may be needed
to aid the safety and efficiency of
air navigation in the United States
and above the high seas, and par
ticularly along the civil airways
designated by the secretary of COM
lnercc." It will therefore "Observe,
Measure and investigate atmoe-
.,heric phenomena and establish
meteorological offices and sta
tions."
What Z Pilot Want to Know
The service desired is, first, i'm
formation as to current conditions,
both surface and upper air, along
the section of the airway over
which flight is to be made; and
second, forecast AS to conditions
over that same route. for. the next
four to six hours. In other words,
pilot wants to know what the
weather and wind conditions are
now at all pOints over which he is
to fly, and as nearly ~ meteor.
OlOgists can tell him, what changes
will occur during the time required
for his flight. This time averages
three or four hours, but Is OCCASION
ally five or six, when there is q
strong head wind. Forecasts for
longer periods are not essential in
aviation. If q pilot is to leave at
Z for a four-hour flight, q general
forecast issued at 8 q. m. is Of
little use to him; what his expert
ence has shown that he needs Is in
formation at LAS p. m. - to condi-
tiOns then prevailing, and . predic-
ton, based upon these conditions,
for the next five hours. This means
of course that observations will not
be taken simultaneously At all
points along an airway, but at vary
ing times depending upon the avia.
ton schedules. Special observa-
tions will be required of surface
and low level conditions, such a
visibility, fog, squalls, thunder
storms, and other unfavOrable phe-
nomena. wind direction and velocity
and heights Of clouds will be
determined by pilot balloon OBJ
servations.
To Assist Mail Fliers
A glance at the postoffice cir
mail map shows the chief routes
that will be helped by the new SER
vice. Commercial aviation in gen-
eral is most active over these desig-
mated airways, because Of the con-
yenience Of landing places, fuel,
supplies, available upper air In
formation, and other considera-
tions. The transcontinental route
from San Francisco to New York
= Is the only route now operated BY
the postoffice department Il Feed
ing into this are u contract routes
which include 81 the points wtere
stations will - opened by the
weather bureau and special service
maintained dueine this first year.
These stations 40 - 4olloNs: Chi
,cago, Cheyenne, 0alt Lake CITY,
Cleveland, Reno New York, Dallas,