Evening star., 1933-06-08
ROPER LAUNCHES
REORGANIZATION Of
| CIVIL AERONAUT|CS
Transfers Always Activities
From Bureau of Light
houses.
SAVING IN ONE YEAR
is PLACED AT $4,000
Most Sweeping Changes Since De-
partment Took Over
Flying.

The long-anticipated reorganization of
the Commerce Department began to-
day with preparation of plans for the
most sweeping changes in the civil areo-
nautics activities of the Federal Gov
ernment since the organization of the
aeronautics branch seven years ago.
Effective July l, under orders issued
by Secretary of Commerce Roper and
made public today, the airways activities
OF the Government will be transferred
from the Bureau of Lighthouses to the
aeronautics branch
The transfer is expected to be fol-
lowed by consolidation of airways main
tenance and aeronautical inspection of
the department and far-reaching de-
GENERALIZATION of the civil aeronautics
activities. 1t Is probable that airways
maintenance and inspection will be con-
centrated at not more than six district
headquarters, each with complete
staff.
Will Save $4,000 q Year.
The transfer of the airways division
Is expected to result in an immediate
annual saving of SIS, 900 a year in ad-
ministrative costs and in further saw
ings as the consolidation and decen-
tralization work proceeds.
Establishment and maintenance of
lighted and radio-eQuipped airways has
been carried on by the Bureau of Light
Houses, under direction of the As
sistant Secretary of Commerce for
Aeronautics, since the adoption of the
air commerce act in 1926.
Decision to put this activity in the
hands nf fha nf fo1<
was a matter Of expediency. 1t was
necessary to establish and operate
lighted airways with all possible speed
as matter Of safety and to accomplish
this it was decided to utilize existing
organizations in the Department rath-
er than to delay the construction by
trying to build up a separate organiza-
ton. The light house service, skilled in
the construction and operation of lights
and radio beacons as aids to marine
navigation, was called upon to provide
the aids to air navigation.
However, since that time more aids
TO air navigation, such as aeronautical
radio, teletypewriter circuits, metero-
logical information and q highly spe-
cialized type Of beacon lights, have been
developed and placed IN operation and
the original airways personnel has been
augmented with aeronautical special
ISIS. Secretary Roper explained.
Sees Greater Efficiency.
Gas the Aeronautics Branch is held
responsible for the regulation and pro-
motion OF civil aeronautics and the
establishment and operation of airways.
and as greater administrative efficiency
and economy would result from CENTER
ing all aeronautical activities in ths
department IN one organization, it was
deemed advisable to make the trans
fer"
Secretary Roper paid high tribute to
the Bureau Of Lighthouses for the
service it has rendered to aeroneutics
In the establishment Of the airways
system.
This has been a signal service" he
said, "and it is my wish that this testi-
monial be made part of the record of
the Bureau of Lighthouses and that all
those employees of the Bureau of Light
houses who have made personal con-
tr1butions consider this as addressed to
them personally"
THE work of arranging for the de-
tails OF the transfer" Mr.. Roper an
nounced, will be brought about by
James G. Edgerton, acting in my be-
nall. Mr.. Edgerton is a member of the
Department Of Commerce reorganiza-
ton committee, specializing on aero
nautical matters"
Split Into Nine Districts.
Under the present civil aeronautics
organization, the United States is di-
vlded into nine districts for the regula-
tlon OF air commerce and eight districts
Tor the maintenance and operation Of
a1rWays lighting. In addition. there are
IL alrways communications districts. or
a total of 30.
Each OF the nine regulation districts
is IN charge Of an inspector, who re-
ports direct to the aeronautics branch
here. The eight districts for airways
1gntlng works under the various super
lntendents of lighthouses and the COM
missioner of lighthouses. The Is COM
district work under the
commissioner of lighthouses and report
direct to Washington.
Plans now under consideration"
Secretary Roper said, "call for combin-
ing these activities as far as possible
and redistricting the United States into
six districts. Each district Office would
then contain an airways superintendent
and a chief inspector Of equal stand
ing, but who would be in continual
touch with each other, bringing about
4 salutary cooperation and exchange
Of ideas and problems In addition, the
Is airways communication districts
would be reduced to nine and six Of
these would be merged with the COM
oined airways and inspection districts"
A.