Evening star., 1934-02-04

10 the cOfnmlttee ana pressed by tnelr
advocates.
The committee, in four days Of hear
tngs, could discover no semblance of
unanimity Of opinion as to any one
site. The committee members, how
ever, did vote unanimously against
the Gravelly Point site, on the strength
OF objections that it is too close to
Boiling Field and the Anacostia Naval
Air Station for safety
Two bills providing for establish
ment OF Capital airport at Gravelly
Point have been introduced, one in the
Senate by Senator Gibson of YER
mont, the other in the House by Rep
resentative Stalker of New York. Both
Gibson and Stalker have taken an ac-
tive part in past years in the local
airport discussions. and Stalker's bill
has been reintroduced, session after
session, for eight years.
The Gibson bill is said TO be the
most comprehensive yet laid before
Congress. 1t was laboriously designed
to meet every possible objection which
has been raised during the hearings
OF the past eight years. Supporters of
the Gibson measure contend that the
element of hazard due to the prox-
unity of the Gravelly Point site to the
military flying fields has been greatly
exaggerated and that the danger vir-
tuaIy can be eliminated BY proper
regulations governing approaches to
and departures from the fields.
Alrplanes circling the military field
and Gravelly Point need never con-
fllct, since the Potomac River. living
between, forms a natural line of de-
marcation and il the aerial traffic
from each port remains on its proper
side OF the river channel there need
be no difficulty on this score, 1t is
contended.
! When, because Of wind conditions,
takeoffs from Gravelly Point are
toward Boiling Field, the takeoffs from
Boiling will be in the same direc-
ton. directly away from Gravelly
Point. Similarly, when the wind di-
rection is reversed and military planes
must take OF toward Gravelly Point,
the civil aircraft from Gravelly Point
Will be taking off into Virginia, di-
rectly away from the river.
When the winds are I'D or down
the Potomac there need be no reason
Tor interference Of any kind. it is
argued. since planes from the two
fields will take of on parallel lines
nearly mile apart. In this case
the only regulation required Is that
planes taking off turn away from the
river and that. in approaching, they
approach the fields from their own
side of the river.
Such rules would hold equally well
IN foul weather or fair. In thick
weather pilots going into Boiling Field
or Washington Airport usually locate
the river and follow it to their des-
tination. The same rule would apply
IN the case of Gravelly Point. 1t is
the natural thing for pilots seeking
Boiling Field to follow the MARYLAND
side of the Potomac and for planes
bound for Washington Airport or the
Gravelly Point area to follow the
Virginia shore. For the sake Of safety
this could be made a regulation if
thought necessary.
The necessity for an ADEQUATE air.
port for Washington is so urgent as
to raise the question above minor con-
siderations. Conditions toGay are
universally admitted to be unsafe and
entirely unsuitable. Must lives be
wantonly sacrificed before action on
this matter is taken?
Increased AirmaiI Sought.
The campaign of the newly created
Committee on Civil Aeronautics of the
National Aeronautic Association to
bring about reduction Of the airmail
postage rate and to create two new
types Of airmail with a view to in
creasing usefulness to the public of
air transportation. has gained wide
spread support during the week since
it began.
Virtually all who have studied the
plan are convinced that it will result
not only in a very great gain in air