Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-03-08
AIRPORT
Gets HIGHEST
ALA Rating
Every Specification of
Department of Com
merce Followed In
Equipping Port

If Brownsville is to develop a
great international port, every
necessary facility must be provided
was the conclusion reached by the
Brownsville city commission when
they accepted the mandate of
Brownsville voters to construct a
municipal port.
Realizing in full the advantageous
location of Brownsville on the bor-
der, the most southerly city on the
mainland of the United States, and
the potentialities Of the city as a
gateway to Latin America, the city
commission reached the conclusion
that it would be necessary to supply
a port that would meet every re-
quirement.
The first move was to seek the o
operation of the engineers of the
army service and the department OF
commerce. Acting upon their adj
vice the city purchased the 488-acre
field, assuring ample space to meet
all requirements of the future. They
next decided upon the ALA rating
of the department of commerce as
the goal, a rating which will place
the Brownsville port in the highest
class among the big ports of the
world.
The Ala rating tesignates only
the highest class airportS, ports Of
ample size, with buildings meeting
every need, and equipment with a
complete lighting system. The first
"A" of the rating covers the general
equipment and facilities; the 81"
designateS the size, and the second
"a" the equipment for night flying.
The ALA rating indicates that the
airport has all necessary equipment
in the way Of buildings and pro-
visions for servicing planes; that
there is ample landing room for
planes with all-weather take-off,
and that it has standard equipment
for night flying.
An airport to secore the first "a"
rating most have one or more
hangers at least 80 by 100 feet with
full width doors; n or more wind
indicators; repair equipment suf-
ficient to permit changing of en-
gineS and for major engine and
plane repairs; weather Instruments:
complete first aid equipment; fire
fighting equipment; sleeping quar-
tiers; sufficient personnel of attend
ants; waiting and rest rooms and
restaurant or other source of food
supply.
To secure the Al rating the
specifications provide a landing area
Of at least $500 feet in all directions,
with clear approaches, the field to
be in good condition for landing at
all times. Ample runways to assure
a~ll-weather takeoff must be pro-
vided.
The second "a" Of the rating.
which applies to night flying equip
ment, provides that the port must
be equipped with a beacon light Of
not less than 100000 candle power;
an illumination wind direction in
dicator: complete system of boun-
Diary lights, and flood lights, the
rays of which cover the landing
field; red obstruction lights on all
buildings; hangar flood lights: and
ceiling protector, all lighting equip
ment to be centrally controlled.
Every provision of the department
specifications has been complied
with. and in several cases amplified.
in equipping the Brownsville air
port. The landing field, is far more
ample than provided in the specifi-
cations, a fact which is appreciated
by the pilots Of the numerous planes
utilizing the port. and all lighting
equipment installed has been Of a
higher class than that specified by
the department. Buildings and
general equipment also exceed the
specifications. with a second hangar
in the course of construction to
handle the rapidly increasing VOL
ume Of business.