Evening star., 1935-07-21
BLIND FLYING UNIT.
due FOR AIRPORT;
ROAD FIGHT GROWS
Equipment Will Increase
Hazards of Crossing,
I Say Officials.
INSPECTION TO Be MADE
PRIOR TO INSTALLATION
Radio k-Ups to Be / 800 Feet
From Field and Two
Miles Away.

While preparations were being made
for a renewal of the fight over the
closing of Military road, key to the
future of Washington Airport. both
at the Capitol and in Arlington
County, the Bureau of Air Commerce
prepared to complete the installation
of the last unit of the blind landing
system at the jeopardized local air.
port.
The Bureau of Air Commerce re-
ceived notice yesterday afternoon from
the Army Air Corps that the radio
units of the Washington Airport in
strument approach system have been
completed at the Materiel Division
Base, Wright Field, Ohio, and are
ready for inspection.
The bureau is expected to make its
inspection of the units early IN the
week. If approved, the radio aids will
be brought here for installation, COM
pleting an experimental installation
which may play a large role in the
future of air navigation.
Trials to Be Made.
Special approach and landing run
way lights already have been in
stalled at the local airport as a part
of the new bad weather landing sys-
tenn and when the radio units are in
place service trials Of the system will
be undertaken.
Two radio installations are required.
One will be about $500 feet from
the edge of TIE airport and the other
two miles away, both in the line OF
the main runway. At each radio sta
ton will be a smaller radio marker
beacon to notify the pilot when he
passes directly overhead.
The approaching completion of the
blind landing Installation, in the opin-
ion of officials of the bureau, adds to
the urgency of the need for closing of
Military road. Clear-weather ap-
proaches to the airport across the busy
highway are highly dangerous but the
attempt to land there in thick weather
by radio will impose still further risks
unless complete traf1lc control can be
assured.
Flagmen Guard Roads.
Automobile traffic on Military road
now is being controlled by traffic
lights and sirens, installed by air.
port officials on their own response
bility. To further safeguard both
automobile and airplane traffic, Sam
uel ]. Solomon, manager of the air
port, at the insistence of Secretary
of Commerce Roper, on July sta
toned fagmen at each of the lights.
These guards now are on duty "a
hours day.
Solomon, on July 8, requested War
Department permission to maintain
these guards and to install traffic
barriers similar to railroad grade
crossing gates, but up to last night
had received no reply to his request
He is maintaining the flagmen on his
own responsibility in the absence OF
War Department action.
Early this week an effort will be
made to bring together representa-
tives of Arlington County civic organ
izations to discuss plans for q new
system of highway approaches to
Washington which will replace Mill
tary road with a more direct route
The plan advanced a few days ago
by a group of three civic groups will
be used as basis for the discussion
As soon as an agreement can be
reached on a definite highway plan
the Arlington County Board will be
asked to hold a public hearing on the
whole matter, including not only the
proposed new highway system but
also the future of the airport.
At the Capitol matters have been
temporarily delayed as result OF
development of opposition to the Nc
Swain bill, which authorizes the sale
of Military road to Arlington County
Representative Jack Nichols of Okla
homa. has served notice he will block
passage of the bill by unanimous con-
sent and McSwain said he will let
the measure rest for a day or two to
await developments.