Evening star., 1936-11-26
TRANS-CANAD|AN
AIRLINE TO OPEN
U. S. Aviation Model for
Service to Connect With
British Route.

day-July /, 1e37-is expected to
mark the Inauguration Of trans
Canadian airway for mail and pass |
engers to operate in cooperation with
the trans Atlantic service via Ireland |
and Newfoundland to Montreal,
which is being set up by the British |
government.
In his new department of trans |
port, which will link all transporta-
ton services by land, water and air,
Minister Charles D. Howe is working
out details for the Federal airline
after personal study of United
States air operations. He made a
flight to New York, another to Chi
cago, then flew to Dallas and took
an overnight sleeper plane to Los
Angeles. Mr. Howe then flew by
easy stages to Seattle and Vancou-
yer, and after two flights through the
Crows Nest Pass of the Canadian
Rockies. which is regarded as the
most dif1icult section of the airway,
returned to Ottawa over the projected
tOuGc W Vancouver.
Railroads to Get Voice.
His intention is to set up an air.
mail company with the government,
the Canadian National Railways and
the Canadian Pacific Railway hold
ing stock. Shares have not been
allocated, but there are two sources
open to the government-to obtain
sufficient interest in the company
through the nationally-owned C. N. R.,
or to retain direct control through
its own holding Of shares combined
with a smaller portion held by the
G. N r.
Remembering this country's ex-
perience in railway building. which
still gives the Minister of Finance
headaches every time he drafts a new
budget, Mr.. Howe hopes to avoid
costly duplication of air lines. Control
of the main line" from Montreal to
the British Columbia coast and chief
trunk lines to the Northland and to
connect with United States lines will
probably be vested in the semi-public
company.
The Post Office Department esti-
mates that sufficient business is avail
able from the start to make the route
pay for itself. The government has
already invested s65OO,0O0 in per-
manent and safety landing fields.
across the Dominion, in aids to night
flying, radio beacons and hangers,
and with the expenditures of an addi-
tional Sl,500,000 would have ground
facilities, in the words of the Minis
ter, 1.-THE equal of those of any trans
continental route in America" While
commercial air services in the United
States have been greatly simplified by
the Federal radio-beam service, it is
believed light beacons at small inter-
vals along the trans-Canada route will
suffice.
Development Of the coast-to-coast
service Is linked with plans for in
creased air defenses, as the equip
ment can readily be adapted to war
time uses.
Planes Opened the North.
1t is admitted that Canada has
been tagging in development of
transcontinental service. At the same
time, in development of this country's
mining resources the airplane has
been an invaluable factor In the Far
North Canadian planes carried more
freight during 1885 than those of the
six leading nations of the world COM
bined. Experience gained in these
operations will form valuable ground
work for the transformation set-up.
The air-service branch of the new
transport department at Ottawa will
consist of the former civil-aviation
branch of the department of national
defense, and the radio and meteoro-
logical divisions of the merged de-
partment of marine. With meteor
ology and radio playing such an i'm
portant part in aviation, Mr.. Howe
considers that grouping these branches
In one "air-service' bureau will pro-
vide coordination in the highest pos
sible degree.
In addition to construction and
maintenance of flying fields, civil
aviation officials in the new depart
ment will continue to license and
inspect private aircraft, examine pilots
for flying certificates and pass on the
airworthiness of private aircraft.
The radio division, in addition to
operating radio aids to marine navi-
cation, will handle the radio aids in
connection with flying fields and con-
tinue to act the licensing authority
for radiotelegraph and radiotelephone
stations in Canada. 1t will also SUPER
wise technical details of radio broad
casting, acting in consultation with
the new radio-broadcasting board.
The meteorological service will con-
tinue its regular weather service, and
in addition provide reports and charts
for use in the transatlantic and
trans-Canadian air services.