Evening star., 1936-02-23
Municipal Airports

and some $4,000 in improvements
have since been added, the charges Of
the airlines are only $440 per month
plus SO cents per revenue passenger
and the charge for lights. Average
monthly revenue is approximately
$4,000 from all sources at the present
time; average expenditure, $1,000.
Special low rates are offered local
owners of planes in order to encourage
more New Orleaneans to become
flyers.
WE ARE in position to take care
w of our aviation for the next so
years." Mr.. Shushan tells us. "A1l we
need to do is build more hangers on
space already provided. I believe that
the airport has been the biggest asset
New Orleans has received since 1t be-
came New Orleans. It will only be q
question of time until traffic will be
running in every direction, for we are
centrally located, and the port will
then prove its value"
And so back to our own Capital City,
where, because of few inches of
snow, we must either arrive by para
chute or by train!
The last word goes to Capt. Ricken-
backer, who has real stake in the
future Of the local airport, since his
company bisects one of its principal
lines here. Lean. hard-bitten, still the
fighter who dealt death to enemy flyers
in war days. Rick" tells us what he
would like to see done to give Wash
ington a model American airport,
municipality owned, and ready to take
its place among those of other world
capitals.
The choice of location is difficult,
but most important" he says. What
ever site is chosen, it should be not
over 80 minutes from the heart Of the
city, with first-class highway in.
The type of surface should be
macadam or concrete, preferably con-
crete, as that is more easily cleared
of snow. Drainage should be by
means of an excellent system, fitted to
local needs. Runways should have a
length of between $500 and 5000
feet and extend in all wind directions
in order to take care of the new low
ceiling instrument landings. For this
reason an absolutely clear approach
is vital-there should be no obstruc-
tions of any sort for half mile to a
mile around the port. The hangers
should be of permanent construction
with a 200-foot span. I have on my
desk now blueprint for new ship
with 145-foot span, and these ships
will be here before such an airport can
be built.
g" THE administration building should
equal a first-class hotel on a
smaller basis and offer all comforts
and conveniences, including restau-
rant and sleeping quarters for passen-
gers who must stay over between trips,
due to weather conditions. Mechani-
cal equipment of the port should, of
course. be of the latest type. I feel
also that, visualizing the future. such
field should accommodate only trans
port operations. There must be abso-
lutte control of all ships for purposes
of safety. Military planes should stay
on military fields and school and pri-
vate flying could well be cared for by
Hoover Field.
''For a quarter of million dollars
such a first-class port could become an
established fact, and it would consti-
tute a national recognition of aviation
that would put us all long step for.
ward. AS far as the present situation
is concerned, by eliminating hangers
filling in the lagoon. closing the road
and taking part of the experiment
farm property, an excellent, safe. tenn.
porary port could be constituted until
the permanent one could be built. It
might be necessary to take S or 1C
year lease on the land to set it. but
that would give time to chose an ideal
spot for the permanent location. The
present port has been CHASTITY men
ace for a long time, and petty larceny
politics and degrees of jealousy among
competing groups have been hopelessly
damaging to progress. There must be
absolute public control, and then
everybody will benefit"