Evening star., 1935-07-21

ton to closing of Military road un
expense, furnishes right-of-way a
Washington Airport is commercial
enterprise. 1t is a money-making
investment. Incidentally, it is one
of the few profitable airportS in the
United States. 1t is not in the
province of airports, even though they
are making profit, to construct public
highways which in no way serve the
airport, airport officials contend No
other airport mas been called upon
to do SO, it is said.
The cost of providing the necessary
right of way and constructing a by
pass road cannot be borne out of
airport profits, 1t Is contended. The
airport management. has had offers
for its property, subdivided for COM
mercial, industrial and residential
purposes which would net it a con-
siderable profit.
If the effort to compel Washington
Airport to construct public highway
is pushed by the Arlington board
it is not at all unreasonable to sup
pose that the airport management
may simply shut up shop and sell
its lands piecemeal, forever destroy
ing one of the most accessible airport
sites in the United States and at the
same time bringing what may prove
a most undesirable development to the
very doors of the Capital.
1t has become apparent that Wash
ington Airport cannot remain in op-
Grafton much longer with Military
road cutting it in two. The Military
road crossing already has resulted in
several accidents, more than one of
which missed being catastrophes by
the narrowest Of margins. The hazard
created by the presence of the road
is growing continuously as takeoff
and landing speeds of the big air
liners increase.
The Bureau Of Air Commerce,
charged with the safeguarding of life
on the airways, has announced pub
licly that If Military road remains
without completely adequate safe
guards the bureau Is left with but
two. alternatives-to prohibit the use
of the airpart by passenger airliners
or to reduce drastically the payloads
of the airline planes so they may
be able to land and take of without
using Military road.
Eastern Air Lines, however, has an
nounced it cannot accept curtailment
of payloads. If its planes are to op-
crate on a profitable basis they must
operate at full load. II the Bureau
of Air Commerce orders reduction
of payloads at Washington Airport,
the airline has announced, it will
cut this city of its schedules.
Should the airlineS abandon Wash
ington Airport its profits would be
wiped out and again the management
would have little choice but to sub
divide and sell for industrial and
other purposes.
Should the present situation force
the closing Of Washington Airport,
this city may be left for many months,
and possibly for several years, with
out any airport capable Of handling
air transport operations. Whatever
the developments at Washington Air
port, they are expected to mature
quickly. Months would be required
for preparation of any other site,
even after congressional action was
obtained.
The airport crisis finds Washington
in a peculiar situation-one which
would not be tolerated by any Ameri-
can city with responsible city gov
ernment.
Lieut. Comdr. Allan p. Flagg, who
reported for duty at the Anacostia
Naval Air Station June 20, has taken
over the duties of operations and re-
pair officer. Lieut.. William A. Moffett,
jr., son of the late Rear Admiral
William A. Moffett. former chief of
the Navy Bureau of Aeronautics, has
been assigned to duty as assistant to
Comdr. Flagg, with additional duties
as Photographic and intelligence Of
ficer.
The flight test department at the
SOo bAOAA AAEAo OCCA4 4AAN4 CdScC0 Ny bA4C
addition Of Lieut.. Edward G. Even,
who reported after a tour of duty
in VO Squadron on the U. S. s.
New Mexico. Lieut.. Even arrived in
time to take charge of the flight test
section Immediately after Lieut.. Comdr.
Alfred M. Pride, chief of the section,
was compelled to return to the Naval
Hospital for further treatment.
The civil aeronautics industry in
the United States produced aircraft,
engines, equipment and spare parts
valued at s44,144,448 during 1884 and
furnished employment for more than
$4,000 persons, it is reported by the
Bureau of Air Commerce.
The total production Of 1915 air.
planes last year represented a gain
over 1893 and ended the downward
trend In production which began in
1880. The value Of airplanes and
parts produced last year amounted
to $25 1896. .078.
Revival of activity in lighter-than-
air flying was indicated by the pro-
duction during the year Of 10 captive
and 6 free balloons, their value, with
spare parts, being $252,523.
Aircraft engine figures were not In
cluded in the figures for airplanes.
The industry last year turned out
2,545 aircraft engines and spare parts
having Q value Of s15,S25,l27. The
total value of propellers, parachutes
and pontoons was $2,667, ,720.
The totals include all aeronautical
production. including aircraft and