Evening star., 1928-04-22
ATLANTIC A|RWAYS
NEEDS EXPLAINED
Regular Flights Over Ocean
Win Follow improvements,
Pilot Believes.
By MAI. JAMES c. FITzMAURIcE.

By MAJ. JAMES c. FITZMAURICE
Bs telegraph TO The star snnd ihe New York
Times,
MURRAY BAY. Quebec. April 2i.--Is
transatlantic nying in present-day air
planes foolish. owing 10 the enormous
risks involved? win regular transat-
lantic commercial aerial services be an
accomplished fact? These are questions
which many people are asking today
as the result Of the enormous public
interest centered on our flight
Other questions which are being
asked are. Should these services ma
terialize in the future, over what route
win the machines operate. and exactly
what type of craft will be employed? /?
VIII the route be New York. Bermuda
Azores. Lisbon and London. or New
York. Newfoundland. Azores. Lisbon
and London, or Newfoundland, Ireland
and London2 VIII the craft used be
land planes. flying boats. seaplanes.
amphibians or dirigibles?
May I offer my views on these ques-
tions?
The transatlantic aerial service will
undoubtedly be the most important
aerial route Of the future. as IL will con-
meet the American and European coun-
tries. Much pioneer work remains 10
be done. even with present-day air.
planes and engines.
Take Glance al Progress.
These flights are not foolish 1n any
case where they are properly organized
and ali the risks realized and provided
against, And those who think trans
atlantic aviation viii never be regular
public utility service should endeaVor
10 get away from the idea of the pres
ent-day airplane, engine and route or
ganizatlon. Glance over the progress
which has taken place in the develop
nent OF aviation in such q short time
and try 10 visualize the aircraft and
ground organization which will exist
Is 10 20 years hence.
Airpianes VIII be produced which will
be capable Of riding out the toughest
gale Il is possible 70 encounter.
Much more reliable and more eco
noinIc engines will also be designed, bet
ter ard reliable c1npasSes and instru-
ments win be available. efficient direc-
/ tion-hnding wireless ~ low weight and
long range wiz also 2 me. meteorological
yei0p. These are the factors which
have u be understood
First, let us take the route. The
shortest IL obviously the best, that ig,
New York, New Foundland, Ireland.
London. The weather conditions here.
however, are slightly worse than those
which would normally be encountered
over the Southern route,
study Weather ConditIons.
As already explained this matter.
however. can be overcome IN time. II
. lsa matter for international discussion
and agreement.
America and midatlantic, and SINH
larry England, France, Germany and
Ireland, will have ~ carry on eorTe~
spending work from the west coast of
Europe ~ midatlantlc
For this work, of course, special ships
would have 10 be available at anchor
IN the ocean for the sole purpose of
meteorological work These ships would
cooperate with the meteorological de-
partmenLs Of the countries concerned,
and the reports would be- collected and
/ definite information be- available at all
times on conditions right across the
OCEAN
When q machine, therefore. is ready
! ~ NsNFN Va ~ PDy1Ebt NAl1 R4tSt1 @ANA
+ nsylgators will know exactly what con-
aitlons they viii encounter and plan
/ Their course accordingly Should, how
| eyer, sudden violent storms arise after
/ the departure 0i the machine. they
! can be Informed III this by wireless and
/ alter their course 10 avoid them,
| Tie wireless would also be useful u
! give the personnel of the machine help
til information throughout their jour.
| ney, which Y0ula enabis tt1Em 10 avoid
adverse winds and plan their route "
take advantage ot every helping wind
Could Bind Exset Position.
Tie position "a the machine 8t ans
time could be given by means VI direG,
tion bnding ground stations, This IL
" great Importance, A. the maobine'
would know their exact position at ans
time, and also the speed they were
making oyer Lbe ground.
On the flights slresdy accomplished
! CONTINUED on Pages, Column 81