Evening star., 1934-12-09

present status and they laid dow
ment Of civil aviation under the
seems to be little doubt that tn,
sion will be Of even more lasting
Aviation has developed greatly
since the Morrow board finished its
task There have been trends no man
could foresee ut that time, and aero
nautics has outgrown the structure
erected for 1t by that board The
Federal Aviation Commission Is seek
ing not only to catch up with this
growth, but to anticipate that Of the
future and to lay down = broad set
of policies to guide future growth to
the best advantage Of the Govern
ment and the people Of the United
States.
Permanent Body Seem.
It seems almost certain that the
commission will recommend the
creation Of . permanent non-partisan
commission to take over the control
Of all civil aviation activities Of the
Federal Government, including pos
sibly the rate-making duties OF the
Interstate Commerce Commission,
though this last Is regarded Is some
what doubtful.
It Is regarded IS. unlikely there
will be any recommendation looking
toward q merging Of Army and Navy
aviation activities; to the creation OF
| a separate air force or q separate
department Of military aviation.
The commission Is expected to
advocate Federal cooperation In q
program Of commercial lighter-than-
air development to keep this Nation
abreast of similar developments
abroad. This Recommendation may
70 50 far as to ask Federal construc-
ton OF airships to be operated by
commercial lines In international
| trade.
Whatever recommendation the
commission may make will be based
upon studies as thorough and PAINS
taking as any which have been made
for the Government by any similar
| body. Its members have given un-
sparing energy to their duties. and
have been conscientious to an extreme
| in their search for vital information
to support their recommendations.
No official aeronautical survey In the
history Of aviation in this country
has been SO exhaustive.
| American aviation has been .
battle-ground for many months, and
jealousies and strife have torn at its
vitals. The whole industry Is look
ing to the contamination Of the COM
missions work as . hope for re-
generation and revitalizing Of Ameri-
| can aviation.
Local Airport Growing.
Expansion Of Washington Airport
to keep pace with progress Of the four
great airline systems now using the
field Is under way. Although the
Federal Government, despite years Of
| agitation, has not yet settled the
question of It's claims to q major por-
| ton Of the airport's landing area,
| new construction work Is 50 urgently
needed that it Is being undertaken in
the face Of possible governmental
connscation.
The airport terminal building Is
being increased in size approximately
so per cent, by the extension Of the
two wings, and the old brick admins
tration building on the former Hoover
Field section OF the airport Is being
moved to increase by approximately
100 feet the width Of the runway
crossing Military road.
A new glass-inclosed control tower
| Is being constructed on top Of the
present tower to give unrestricted
vision in every direction and to house
| the airplane control lights which Hash
take-o7 and landing instructions to
pilots.
Concession stands, telephone and
telegraph lines along Military road In
the line Of the widened runway have
been raised, the lines being laid under
ground in this section.
Construction Of the big non-rigid
airship hangar on the former Hoover
Field area Is nearing completion. In 1t
Is to be housed one Of the feet OF
Goodyear airships which have been
flown here from time to time for use
in advertising, passenger hopping.
charter flying, serial photography ana
similar activities.
This urgently needed construction
program at the local airport has been
delayed for several years because OF
uncertainty as to the intentions OF the
Government. For more than seven
years Congress has been petitioned
year after year to establish q suitable
airport for Washington and airport
bills have been passed by one or other
Of the legislative branches on several
occasions, only to fail Of enactment.
The situation Is complicated by the
unsettled claim of the Government to
the property along the Virginia shore.
In view Of the uncertainty Of gov
ernment action, the airport manage
ment is assuming heavy risk In
going ahead with the present con-
str,lction work It is taking . chance"
to keep washington from being left
with q completely obsolete air trans
port terminal
johnson to Speak.
Former Representative Royal c.
johnson Of South Dakota, World War
veteran and former Military Affairs
Committee member, will address local
Army Air Corps Reserve officers at the
regular conference meeting in the Air
Corps projection room. Munitions
building, at O'Clock Tuesday eve
ming.
Mr.. johnson is to speak on the gen.
eral subject. Aviation" 1t was
| announced. Capt. w. v. Andrews, Air
Corps, local reserve instructor, will be
in charge. Capt. Andrews is operations
officer 1T Boiling Field.
The night-nying schedule for local
reserve officers Of the 409th Attack
Squadron for Tuesday night will be
cancelled to permit officers Of the
squadron to attend the lecture meet
ing. Tuesday and Thursday evenings
have been regularly scheduled for
night flight training at Boiling Field.
The local attack squadron has been
i reorganized this Fail and, under COM
mand of Maj. r. e. Whitehead. squad
ron commander, Is making good
progress with o more concentrated
program Of squadron training. Plans
are being considered for the allotment