Evening star., 1936-07-02
CREW To HANDLE
TRAFFIC SPACING
AS AID TO SAFETY
7 Other important Fields
Will Get New
Facilities.
WORK IN COOPERATION
WITH LOCAL OFFICIALS
Pilots to Be Required to Submit
Flight Plans Before Obtain.
ing Clearance.
by JOSEPH s. EDGERTON.

In line with a new policy of estab-
fishing Federal airWays traffic control
at major American air transport
terminals, the Bureau of Air Com
merce about August l will inaugurate
a control system at Washington Air
port, probably with four men on per-
maneut duty.
The duty of the control crews at
Washington Airport and seven other
OF the most important air transport
fields in the United States will be 10
assure adequate spacing between ai.-
planes flying along the established all
ways and to prevent congestion and
consequent danger Of collisions at air
ports.
The first three control stations, at
Newark, N. j., Chicago and CleJe-
land, will go into operation July 6.
The Washington station will go into
operation upon the completion by the
airport of construction of quarters for
the control personnel. In addition 70
Washington, other cities scheduled to
receive control crews in the near future
are Detroit, Pittsburgh, Los Angeles
and San Francisco.
No Equipment Provided.
No installation of equipment is pro-
vided under the program, the Federal
officials working in co-operatiCr with
airport and airline organizations and
employing existing radio and COM
municatior facilities.
Traffic ccutrol is most urgently
needed when aircraft along the air
way are flying in or above fog and
clouds and are being navigated by i'll
struments and radio it was explained
by the Bureau Of Air Commerce. AT
such times it is especially necessary
that aircraft be kept adequately sepa-
rated, either horizontally or vertically
or both, so that there can be no posi-
bility of a collision. Also it Is neceS-
sary that the aircraft proceed in an
orderly sequence and not be punched
together on arrival at the airport, and
at the same time that 40 schedule be
unreasonably delayed"
The personnel at Washington Air
an assistant manager and two con-
trollers. The control crew will operate
continuously while airline operations
are being carried on and eventually
probably will work on 24-hour basis.
There always will be at least one man
on duty. with two or more on the job
during busy periods.
The control crew will receive de-
parture. arrival and position reports
on all aircraft operating in the Wash
ington area and also will receive
reports on private and military ar
planes apt to come into the area of
airport operations. Every pilot taking
off from Washington Airport will oe
required to submit to the control
official on duty flight plan, which will
note the destination and altitude Of
the proposed flight approximate time
of arrival at the first radio check point,
cruising altitude, estimated flying time.
type of airplane and other necessary
information. If the plan appears
likely to involve any conflict with other
traffic already in the air, the pilot will
be required to work out new flight
plan. Approval Of the flight plan by
the control officer constitutes clear
ance for the pilot.
Check Progress of Plane.
After the sirplane takes off marker
is placed on the map of the local area
and moved every IS minutes to indicate
the progress the airplane should be
making. As position reports are re-
ceived, necessary corrections will be
made in the position of the marker
so that the location of the airplane will
be shown as accurately as possible
throughout its flight.
In the case of incoming airplanes,
the pilots will be contacted by radio
and warned of others in the vicinity
and instructed to regulate their speed
to avoid conflict with other airplanes
approaching the airport, especially in
bad weather.
Instructions to pilots will be sent by
radio either through the airport traffic
control station. now being installed at
Washington Airport, OR through radio
communications stations of the various
airlines. Airlines now operating out Of
Washington Airport have their own
communications services, available for
control duty The local lines are East
ern Airlines, American Airlines Penn
-.