Evening star., 1927-08-28
PLANES MAY CARRY |
RADIO BY ORDERS.
Aircraft Likely to Be Re-
quired to Adopt Communi-
cation Safety Measure.

II is likely that aircraft as we'll as
marine craft will soon have to cauN
both radio receiving and transmitting
apparatus 10 inSuTE communication ne
tween planes and other stations ana
provide an additional safety measure
This regulation. while not prolnulEat-
ed vet. seems imminent due TO the re-
cent unfortunate loss Of life in the
Pacific flights. and will certainly ne
a requirement of passenger-carrylhG
planes.
Already the International ConNeh'
ton OF Air Navigation i'll force IN Eu-
rome has a requirement regarding radio
in aircraft This specifies that only
properly licensed equipment and oP-
orators may handle such apparatus,
and REQUIRES reliable receiving ana
transmission equipment on planes ear
~ying 10 or more passengers, Just as on
water craft. The United States, now
ever, is not yet a party to TINS cohNeh-
ton due to the fact that some of the
requirements and regulations pertain
ing to aircraft operation are not adal,-
table to flying in this country. with
the issuance of new flying regulations
for the United States, many think that
Secretary Hoover. under whose dlrec-
ton aerial navigation falls, will order
passenger-carrying planes. especially
when on long over-water flights, to be
fully equipped with radio.
Use Is Endorsed.
IT NAV be that. as in the Navy,
emergency equipment will be required
as we'll as regulation equipment, the
transmitter of which depends upon the
operation of the airplane engine or
engines; extra batteries and special
l@cA H. III tD IN.
sure the flyers means Of transmitting
after landing will also. very likely be
required. Such means have been
tested and tried out successfully in
the Navy, all planes of which are re-
quired to carry radio. An added fea-
ture of CARRYING batteries is that illu-
mination might be maintained after
the engine ceased to function, winch
Is most essential during darkness.
The value Of radio to aerial navl-
cation. while perhaps a little slower
to be recognized than it was in ma
rine navigation, which pursuit was
the first to adopt radio communica-
ton, is nevertheless rapidly being
recognized. and both radio and aero
nautical experts in commercial and
Official circles are indorsing its use.
Experiment With Radio.
The Department Of Commerce aero
nautic branch is rapidly taking over
the operation Of postal and CONNER
cial air routes throughout the United
States and installing radio facilities
along them, making possible both
communication and radio beacon serv.
ice to insure safer navigation. A re-
cent test of radio apparatus on a
postal plane for communication use
demonstrated that via radio telephony
conversations could be maintained for
a distance Of $50 miles. The plane
was flying between New Brunswick,
n. j., and Cleveland, Ohio, and the
fransmitter was located near Belle.
fonte, Pa. remotely controlled from
the hyins field. The special purpose
or this transmitter is to furnish
weather and other Information for
flyers along this route. Another ex.
pertinent was carried out from Had
ley Field. in New Jersey, where the
General Electric Co. has recently in
stalled 1-KW radio beacon. Flight
tests indicate that the direction sig.
mas from this station are available
up to at least 80 miles of the trans
mitter. without the necessity of Shield.
ing the ignition system Of the air.
pane. Further tests with a. naval
ulrlglDIe are planned,
This sort OF service. planned for an
transcontinental aerial routes will
make it possible for both private and
commercial planes to secure weather
Information, carry on regular radio
communication or send emergency
messages and also listen.in to the hi.
fecuenal or guiding radio beacons all
on the same radio receiving set. Prac.
Ilcdlly all radio work Of fha deY,a ~ .
ment is now handled by the light.
house service, which also handles the
airway illumination system. The Gen.
eral Electric Co. has just produced
small and compact aerial radio re.
ceiving set weighing but eight pounds.
which is being tested out on the COM
rnercial routes from Boston to New
York and by Army, naval and air
mail experts.
Radio Beacon Service.
A recent conference of experts of
the International Radiotelegraph' Con-
ference discussed the radio beacon
service and the need for band of
frequencies rather than a: single chan.
mel, as well as use OF the 6O0.meter
international distress or sos chan.
mel in aerial navigation as we'll as in
marine for emergency uses.
Activities and developments in the
several governmental bureaus and de-
partments concerned with radio and
aviation all indicate a closer and
closer afiliation Of radio and aero
. nautics, following the similar but now
old relationship of these two sciences
communication and navigation-at
sea.