Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-01-06

indicates that there probably will
out the industry to attain gre
obtained without increasing ope
If this belief is justified by events
during the early months of 1885, in
the opinion of leaders of the industry,
it will mean that the factor of obso-
lescences will become less important;
that aircraft will remain in service for
longer periods and that the resulting
economies can be applied TO improve
ments in other directions.
Transport airplanes of increased
size are regarded as probable on the
Improvement in comfort and safety
IS primary considerations. 1t also is
regarded as likely there will be
greater specialization in types of air.
craft, with high-speed, high-altitude
airplanes of great range on the long
arteries of trade and planes Of smaller
capacity and probably greater economy
of operation on the short feeder lines
Airlines Step Up Schedules.
Flying time has been reduced ap-
proximately / hour on the Central
Airlines route between Washington
and Detroit, by way of Cleveland,
Akron and Pittsburgh, as result OF
replacement of former flying equip
ment with tri-motored Fords. Fly
ing personnel has been increased.
Under the new schedules, three
round trips a day are flown and di-
rect connections are made with other
airlines at Pittsburgh, Cleveland and
Detroit.
/ American Airlines is planning
high-speed sleeping plane service be-
tween Washington and Los Angeles
| by the Southern transcontinental
route, it is understood. No official
plans have been announced. 1t is
understood, however, that the Douglas
transports which are to be used will
make stops only at Nashville and
Memphis, Tenn, and Dallas and Fort
Worth, Tex, en- route to the coast.
Total elapsed time between Wash
ington and Los Angeles is to be 16
hours and IS minutes.
The planes will be set up for night
travel and passengers may get 10
hours of sleep in full-length berths
during the trip. All New York-Los
Angeles planes in the future will be
routed through Washington, according
to plans of the line
PENNSYLVANIA Airlines has taken
delivery of the first of feet OF s.
| mile a-minute Boeing transports.
which are to go into service January
8 between Washington and Detroit,
making direct connections with the
| four major airline systems of the
| country. The new ships replace tri-
motored Ford transport planes.
New Ratings Planned.
A new system of airport classical
ton, under which only airports serv-
| ing scheduled interstate airlines will
be examined for compliance with Fed
/ eral requirements, has been put into
| effect by the Bureau of Air Com
merce.
The airportS which are able to
meet requirements will be rated as
, transport airports and airlines will
| be authorized by the bureau to oper-
ate only from those airports which
have met the requirements and been
| so rated. Exceptions will be made
in cases Of emergency or in instances
where the Bureau of Air Commerce
| grants waivers permitting the use of
an unrated airport.
In the past efforts have been made
to rate all airportS meeting certain
minimum requirements which vol
UNFAIRLY requested such ratings.
This system" it was explained by
| Eugene L. Vidal, director of air COM
merce, was appropriate and valuable
when adopted several years ago when
| there were only few airportS and
there was little basis for predictions
as to what future developments in
aeronautics would make necessary in
airport design and construction.
Safety to Be Stressed.
Nov, with many more airportS,
and with more standardization in
establishment and maintenance of
! landing facilities, it is necessary for
the Federal Government to conflne
examinations of landing areas and
equipment to those airports directly
concerned with scheduled airline OPP
erations. Requirements for those air.
ports will involve only those features
directly linked with safety of flight,
and the examinations will simply de-
termine eligibility for the T claSsifl-
cation"
The transport classification is to
be based upon the adequacy and
safety of the landing area for the
types Of aircraft actually used in
scheduled operations at the field in
question. Primary requirements are
that the airport shall be large enough
and have sufficient freedom from sur
rounding obstacles to permit aircraft
of the types used at that particular
airport to land and take off safely
into wind from any direction.
Field dimensions and distractions
are to be checked and measured in
each case prior to the issuance of
any rating. The Bureau of Air
Commerce also will require that the
ground be firm and stable, with arti-
fetal drainage provided where neces-
Sary. or that hard-surfaced runways
be provided. The bureau will spe-
city minimum length and width of
runwayS and the maximum permits
Sible variation in grade. Where neces-
Sary, it will require removal Of dan
gerous distractions. If night opera
lions are contemplated. necessary