The Wrangell sentinel. (Wrangell, Alaska) 1909-current, 1935-09-20
PLANES AT CORDOVA HANGAR
FITTED WITH TWO-WAY RADIO

Among the finishing touches be
ing installed on planes at the Lath
rop hangar and machine shop. ae-
cordiEg to the Cordova Times, is the
equipping of all planes with radio
apparatus in line with the regula-
tons requiring a two-way com
munication service which will en-
able planes to keep in touch with
their base and destination.
Unlike the airlines of the United
States. Alaskan pilots have few OF
the safeguards and guides provided
tor all-weather flying. Whereas pi-
lots of the states are provided with
beacons marking their course and
radio apparatus which continuously
pick up beams to indicate if they
are on or off their course. the Al
askan pilot must make long detours
around mountains and rely upon his
compass and knowledge of the ter
rain over which he is travelling to
pick favorable landing places in
case OF bad weather or mechanical
difficulty
Continuous Signals
The system provided in the Unit
ed States consists of what may be
termed a lane stretching from one
airport to another. This lane is
hedged on two sides by radio beams.
while a third follows the true course
between points. While enroute the
pilot receives a continuous signal
indicating he is on the course. If
he sweryes to the left, the signal
changes, warning the base operator,
who Immediately puts the plane
again on its course. The same sys-
TEN operates if he swerves to the
right By the same operation
safeguard is provided against over
flying. In this event the signals of
straight direction cease and the pi-
lot knows he is beyond the zone of
radio activity.
Alaska Pilots Efficient
Considering the few accidents to
required in blazing airlanes to all
parts of the Territory. they have
won the distinction of being num-
bered among the safest and most
efficient of the nation. In addition
10 being compelled to provide their
own emergency facilities they have
devised many expedients in case of
being forced down. among which is
the wing-slip landing on brush, as
was employed recently when a plane
ran into fog near Yakataga. The
sandy beach. often used for landing
was covered by high tide, and it
was necessary for Pilot Kirkpatrick
OF the Cordoya Air Service to set
his plane down with a wing-slip on
bed of brush. The worst he suf-
sered was damaged wings Fog had
all but obscured visibility when he
picked out a hole beneath and
slipped for the brush Ironically
enough. there was but one small
spruce tree for great distance
along the beach and Kirkpatrick
just grazed it. Neither he nor his
passengers were much disconnected
the plane cushioning down upon the
stiff, thick brush. In these emergen-
oy landings nothing more can hap
pen than damage to landing gear
In many instances even this does
not occur.
Guard Wilderness Men
By following rivers and lakes a
pilot may always spot a trapper's
cabin and a place to land. especially
in winter while using ski-equipped
planes. or in summer when facilities
permit of pontoon landing at all
airports. It is only when equipped
solely with wheels that the wing
slip stunt comes into play.
1t is in winter that the knights of
the airlanes become the guardians
of men located at isolated points in