Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-09-28
CUT RATES AND MORE COMFORT
HEAD FLYING PROGRESS IN YEAR
Federal Lighted Always Extended and
Number of Airports Increased, Report
I In Commerce Yearbook Shows.

Reductions in airplane passenger
fares and the use OF more comfortable
planes were important elements in the
marked expansion and development of
civil aeronautics in the United States
last year, according to a report in the
Commerce Yearbook, issued during the
past week by the Department Of Com
merce.
The years progress, the department
reported. was marked by increased
flights of aircraft in scheduled and mis-
cellaneous operations, and the expansion
Of these operations to include sections of
the country which heretofore had not
enjoyed air service.
The aviation industry, as a whole,
made substantial progress, it was re-
ported. In the field of scheduled air
transportation more than 25,0000 900
miles were flown during 1929, or a daily
average of $4,000 miles. Nearly ITS 900
passengers were carried over scheduled
routes and more than 100000 pounds
OF airmaM were flown, bringing the air.
mail carriers revenue of 1000 600
All this was accomplished by 500 pilots,
flying 525 planes, and ground personnel
numbering about 1000, according to the
report.
New Airports Established.
"This general increase in air trans
portation," the department reported,
was due in a large measure to the ex-
tension and development of the Federal
atrways by the Department of Com
merce; to the establishment of addi-
tional airports and landing fields; to the
increasing recognition given the value
OF air transportation by the public, and
to the improved performance of the
planes and engines employed"
The record for lilo n aosre aNNara
tons, including student instruction. air
taxi flying experimental flying, aerial
photography, crop busting and similar
activities, was even greater than for
scheduled transportation Approxi-
mately 125, 900 900 miles were flown in
these operations, which is more than
twice that credited to the previous
year. Nearly 1000 licensed planes and
more than 10000 licensed pilots figured
in the miscellaneous flying record.
Federal lighted airways were ex-
tended from nearly 1000 miles in 1928
to about 1880 in 1929. AT the close of
the year there were on the airways
1871 electric and gas beacon lights, 285
lighted intermediate landing fields, 8
radio range beacons and "a radio COM
munication stations for broadcasting
hourly weather reports to planes in
flight.
ny tLAC SIlQ % 1873, ACCORDING 10 the
report, the number of airports and
landing fields available for aircraft
stood at 1850 Scheduled air opera
tons were> commenced on 80 new routes
during the year, many Of these being
expansions Of systems by companies al
ready in the field, though eight new
companies started operations during the
year.
Many Lines Cut Rates.
Reductions In rates were made by
many of the transport lines during the
last few months of the year." the re-
port continues. Taking into consid-
Grafton the type of service rendered and
the time saved through the use of air
transport, the tariffs at the close of
the year were within range of favorable
comparison with railroads. The reduced
rates resulted in a marked increase in
the number Of passengers taking adj
vantage of the airplane as a means OF
travel.
THE comfort Of the passenger was
given more consideration by airline
operators. BY carefully studying those