Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-06-07

tional chain of air mail lines
i when service will be inaugurated
between the National Capital
and Pittsburgh, giving this city its
first direct connection with the MID
West and West.
The service will be flown by
Pennsylvania Airlines as an extension
of the present Pittsburgh Cleveland
air mail line. Since August, 1929,
Pennsylvania Airlines, established by
Clifford Ball, have operated passenger
service between Pittsburgh and Wash
tngton in anticipation Of the day when
an air mail contract would be forth
coming.
For nearly two years one passenger
trip has been flown each way daily be-
tween Washington and Cleveland,
single motored six-paSsenger planes be-
ing used Beginning tomorrow pas
sengers will be carried on all mail
flights with three round trips scheduled
daily. Tri-motored StinsonS are to be
used. The first of the big planes has
been delivered. bright and new in the
cream and red color scheme Of the line.
The new service will give the National
Capital direct connection with the
Western systems, Transcontinental and
Western Air at Pittsburgh and National
Air Transport Boeing at Cleveland, for
both mail and passengers. The three
trip schedule is to be maintained daily
except Sundays and holidays, when the
morning trip will be Cancelled, leaving
the midday and evening trips to handle
the holiday business.
Contract was Long Coming.
Contract for the Inauguration of the
Pittsburgh-W mail service was
awarded by the Post Office Department
following considerable delay. Congress,
before adjourning, three months ago,
appropriated funds. to be Immediately
available, for the flying of the mail on
temporary basis until July /, when
regular appropriations will be available
for the purpose. Though funds we're
available for four months Of temporary
operation of the line, less than month
will be flown before expiration of the
fiscal year.
Extension Of service to Norfolk, Va,
has been proposed when the July ap-
preparations become available. Al
though it had been generally understood
that this service would be inaugurated
as an extension of the Cleveland Pitts
washington line, the Post Office
Department now Is said to be consider
ing establishment of lire from Rich
mond to Norfolk, despite the fact that
the Department of Commerce has es-
tabliShed a lighted airway from Wash
ington to Norfolk. This airway which
includes lighted intermediate landing
fields and beacons for night operations
now stands idle awaiting the beginning
Of regular operations.
Schedule Announced.
The mail-passenger planes will leave
Washington Hoover Airport for Pitts
burg and Cleveland daily at 900 am.
and 1910 and $50 pm beginning to-
morrow. The first trip will be omitted
on Sundays and holidays. On the re-
turn trip planes will leave Cleveland at
8 am. and las and AIS pm, arriv-
ing in Washington at 11:l0 am. and
4:55 and 7:30 pm. The first trip will
be omitted on Sundays and holidays.
The midday trips each way will be
held one hour at Pittsburgh to provide
1eeway for connections with Transcon-
tinental and Western Air.
Not only will the Inauguration of air
mail service directly across the noun
tains be of importance to the Capital,
but the expansion of air passenger serv-
ice to Pittsburgh and Cleveland is well
coined as necessary step forward The
single plane now flown daily over the
line almost invariably is taxed to ca
pacity and on a majority of good
weather days passengers are turned
away
The flight across the mountains be-
regarded as one of the greatest time
savers in the country. BY rail the trip
requires from eight to nine hours on
the best trains; by air it is made In
two hours or less. Pilots on the line,
with favoring winds, have made the trip
In just few minutes over an hour
several times.
The mountain crossing will be made
on one OF the newest of the Federal air.
ways. equipped for both day and night
flying. intermediate fields have been
located at frequent intervals along the
route. Anyways beaconS have been in
stalled and complete weather and COM
munications services are available. For
thick weather operations the Depart
ment OF Commerce provides radio bea-
con service from the new station at
Hunters Point, Va.
AirmaiI Progress Shown.
The growth of airmail service dur
Ing the past five years Is shown in a
most interesting and thorough-going re-
port just completed by the aeronautics
branch of the Department of Commerce
During that period the amount of mail
flown by the contractors has increased
from 377.206 pounds a year to 8,513,675
pounds during the past year.
The amount paid by the Federal Gov
eminent to the contractors for flying
the mail has increased steadily from
S765,549 during the first year to $20,-
015,96 last year. The income average
received by the contractors for each
scheduled round-trip increased from
1926 to maximum of $1,205 in 1929,
but fell of in 1880 to 1914.
The average income of the contractors
Tor each pound of mail flown. however,
has steadily decreased since the second
year. Starting out in 1925 with a reve-
nue. of 5000 per pound, the contractors
in 1927 received $2.o8 per pound on the
average. The next year the average fell
back to $203 In 1929 1t dropped 2
cents a pound further and last year
was down to only $3.50 per pound.
The average load flown In the mail
planes has increased steadily since the
beginning. During the first year the
average was 1l2 pounds per flight, while
last year it had increased to COB pounds
The daily average of miles flown by the
Nations airmail planes has increased
from IL 800 miles in 1926 to 101 220
miles each "a hours last year. The
miles Of mail Always over which regu-
lar schedules are maintained has in
creased from 5000 miles in 1926 to Al
sol miles last year.
Discuss Obstacles.
The campaign of the aeronautics
branch of the Department Of Commerce
to have all obstacles to air navigation
adequately marked and lighted to re-
duce the hazard to day and night
flying pilots took another step forward
during the past week when representa-
tiveS of the leading national organiza-
tons maintaining such obstacles confer
MOTOR DON'TS
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