Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-07

perience, and they certainly have
valuable tips to give the United States.
Outstanding In connection with the
observations ] made in Europe are the
completeness of airdrome equipment
the we'll trained ground personnel, and
the facilities for the moving of pas
sengers to, from and through the air
dromes, in which naturally include
such things as the administration build
ings Croydon, Templehof and LIE
Bourget are outstanding examples.
Il visited some of the private air.
dromes in France, for instance the
Farman, to see their blind-flying equip
ment. I also went to Italy and visited
Centocelli and Littorio, and to Milan,
as we'll as going to Paris, Brussels and
Rome"
What did you think Of civil aviation
In Germany"
IT found it as good as any on the
continent. certainly in its arrange
ments. OF course, Germany has much
more extensive area Of operation than
most Of the other countries.
The LufthanSa has q very well
operated airdrome.
There is one thing in passenger
transportation in Europe which does
not and probably never will enter into
the American situation; that Is, the
direct government subsidies.
Dependence ON Itself.
Aviation In the United States, as
there Is no subsidy, must make or break
itself. Therefore, what We have has
been established as the result of well
worked-out plans by business men who
have been successful in other lines of
transportation as we'll The majority of
companies are paying their own way,
and In some instances are showing
considerable return.
The Government subsidy, as granted
to the aviation organizations abroad,
plus what might be termed the state
control or management Of the important
airdromes, permits. perhaps, an over
head which contributes to the service
what our air transport companies in
the United States will have to take
into consideration In determining their
proposed revenues. But in the United
States, as In Europe, air transport will
be more expensive for some time than
surface transport.
Looking reasonably well into the flu
ture, ] do not think the cost can come
down to the level Of surface transport
Look at 1t from this point Of view
Between New York and Chicago, for In
stance, there are extra fare trains.
There was at one time doubt whether
extra fare would be tolerated. Those
trains go out completely filled. The
same Is true Of transcontinental trains
They are used to capacity when they
offer additional comfort. which indicates
that comfortable and reliable service,
whether by air or otherwise, will be
used If 1t saves time"
do you think flying Is essentially q
young mans job?"
A Specialized Science.
"No," ldaj. Young said. Certainly
not so far as scheduled air Transports
ton is concerned. Flying, as regards
the scheduled transportation Of an air
liner carrying passengers and merchan-
disc, Is q specialized science which calls
not only for plotting, but for naviga-
ton and Judgment.
I'm plotting an air liner over a reg
ular route the actual physical effort is
almost negligible. You take of once,
during the trip the ship is almost
stable, and you land once The impor-
tant point is to fly rapidly in all
weathers The pilot can be young or
middle-aged. The physical qualifica-
ton does count, but there is the large
practical side of it.
"Air transport Is q comparatively