Evening star., 1928-12-23
AVIATION
BY JOSEPH S. EDGERTON.

thirds vote, as a rider on a Senate
bill dealing with advancements on
the Army retired list. This was
done in the hope that the measure
would go to conference lmme-
diately and so reach early action
in the Senate.
Instead, the amended Senate
bill. carrying the Furlow rider,
has been referred back to the
Senate committee on military af-
fairs, where it faces delays which
not only imperil the bill but which
are a source of real menace to the
air defense of the Nation. The
Furlow bill stands above the realm
of politics, and it is to be hoped
that no question of political con-
sideration will be permitted to de-
lay early and favorable action by
the Senate committee and by the
Senate.
The District of Columbia NUM-
cipal airport measure also has met
with adverSity, particularly at the
House end of the Capitol. Placed
upon the unanimous consent cal
endar, it was called up during the
past week, but was blocked When
Representatives William P. Hola-
dav of Illinois and Robert G. Sim
mons of Nebraska objected to con-
Sideration of the bill.
Although the House bill has
reached the floor, the House Dis
trict committee has reopened the
airport matter by granting a
hearing on the offer by Henry
Woodhouse of an airport site on
the Mount Vernon road south OF
Alexandria, Va. Experience has
demonstrated that airportS so far
removed from the business dis
tricts of the cities they serve are
severely handicapped and are sell
dom successful. This offer should
not be permitted to delay conSid-
Grafton by Congress OF the pend
ing airport bill.
Local airport legislation still is
in the hands of the Senate
District committee and Senator
Arthur Capper of Kansas, chair
man, has appointed a subcom-
mittee to look over available sites
and report back to the full COM
mittee.
In considering the creation of
an airport for the National Cap
ital those having the matter in
charge should profit by the ex-
perience of France with the ia
NOUS LIE Bourget airport, which
serves Paris. This airport, Whlcn
has been regarded as one OF the
four leading fields Of the world,
todayViS out of date, and a cam
paign is being waged for its
abandonment in favor OF a new
location.
Traffic has increased so great
ly at lie Bourget that what was
regarded as a model airport a few
wears ago is inadequate to meet
the demands imposed upon 1t by
the operations of today. One OF
the most serious objections to lie
Bourget, however, is it's distance
from the city. While the flight
from London to Paris requires two
hours, it takes at least full hour
to reach the center Of Paris from
the field.
From the standpoint Of the
pilot there is another very serious
objection to the noted French air.
port; the existence Of buildings or
other obstructionS in the line OF
take-offS and landings on three
sides of the field.
The French experience with LIE
Bourget was duplicated by that
of the British at the splendid
Croydon airport, at London. Two
years ago Croydon, which ranks
today as one of the finest in the
world, was found inadequate to
meet the burdens of expanding
traffic and was completely recon-
Structed.
with these experiences in mind,
Congress should see to it that air.
port legislation is passed which is
adequate to care for the needs OF
the National Capital and remove
this city from the humiliating
status which it now occupies as
the only world capital without ma
tional airport facilities.