Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1936-10-29
AIRPORT STUDIES
POINT TO coming
ADJACENT AREAS
Crew Rigs Equipment to
Learn Space Needed to
Gain Safe Altitude.
NEW 4,2O0-FOOT PAVED
RUNWAY PROVIDES DATA
Theodolite and Camera Stations
to Be Used to Get Exact
Take-0f Information.

Studies which may lead to Federal
recommendation for strict coming Of
construction around the Nations air.
transport terminals were begun today
at Washington Airport by a Bureau
of Air Commerce crew headed by Will
liam M. AldouS, senior airport en-.
gineer
The crew yesterday afternoon COM
pleted the stringing of a system of
telephone lines the length Of the new
4,200-foot paved runway and setting
up theodolite and camera stations to
be used in determining the exact take
of performance of every type OF
transport airplane using the local air
terminal.
The object of the studies is to de-
termine just how much space actually
is required for airliners of different
types to take of and climb to an alti-
tude of 500 feet, regarded as the
minimum altitude from which an air.
plane can turn back in case of emer-
gency and land in the field from
which it has just taken of.
1T is becoming apparent that the
character of the airport surroundings
may be as important as the actual
size of the airport ITSELF" Aldous said.
I'VE are seeking to find how much
open space is desirable around main
air terminals so that airplanes may
land safely in case of emergency from
below the critical 500-foot altitude"
Take-off Data Checked.
The system placed in operation al
Washington Airport today consists OF
a chain of observation stations along
the length of the main runway, con.
nected by telephone with master
station at the zero" or take-off end
of the runway and with camera sta
tons at two points. one at the end OF
the runway and one at a distance
from the runway sufficient to permit
triangulation readings.
Transport pilots cooperating in the
| tests will start their take-offs from
a zero mark on signal. The OBJ
servers along the runway will start
! their stopwatches on the same signal
| AS the airplane passes each OF the
observation stations the observer will
stop his watch and bark signal ia
the two camera men, who will snap
simultaneous exposures. Theodolitei
also will be used to record the exact
altitude of the airplane at the various
stations until it attains an altitude
of 500 feet.
| F,,I - I1n
photographs will show the exact per.
Torrance of the airplane under serv.
| ice conditions-how much space il
takes to get of the ground, how fast
| it climbs and the distance required
before it gets above the critical alti-
/ tude.
/ 1t was pointed out that in case Of
engine failure during a take-off, an
airplane must land straight ahead I'm.
! less it has reached sufficient altitude
IN which to undertake a turn. This
altitude, experience shows, is about
500 feet. The studies which began
today, therefore, will show just how
much area must be kept open fol
emergency landings. 1t is probable
that future airport ratings issued by
the Federal Government will be based
upon the nature of the approaches
within this critical distance rather
than merely upon the size of the air.
port.
To Test Other Fields.
After determining the performance
of all airplanes operating out OF
Washington on the newly paved rum
ways, the crew will move to New
York and subsequently to other all
terminals in various parts Of the
country, making similar studies. The
results will show the exact effect upor
operations of such factors as paved
runways as compared with turf and
bare ground, elevation of the airport
and the character of the airport sur.
roundings.
| It was admitted that coming Of
property around major airports prob
ably would prove difficult and costly
process, especially at points where
there has been considerable develop
ment already. Before any attempt
can be made to institute coming opera
tions of any sort, it was said, there
must be exact data available covering
the requirements of every type of air
craft at every type Of airport.
Paving of the uncompleted half OF
the shorter, 3,000-foot runway at the
local airport was begun today with
the placing of the crushed rock foun.
dalton. Paving will be completed with,
in about a week. This will finish the
paving of both runways.