Evening star., 1937-02-15
A|RWAyS TRAFFIC
CONTROL SYSTEM
INSTALLED HERE
Station Goes Into Trial 0p.
eration-0n FuII-Time
Basis March /.
PILOTS MUST SUBMIT
PLANS ON ALL FLIGHTS
Radio and Ground Teletype Cir.
cults Keep Track of All Planes
to Avoid Crashes.

Every airplane operating to or from
washington today became subject to
Federal traffic control, with installa-
tion at Washington Airport of the
long anticipated Commerce Depart
ment airways traffic control station.
The station went into trial opera
tion for the first time today on a part
time basis and probably will 60 into
full control about March l. After
that, any pilot failing to comply with
Federal traffic control instructions will
be subject to fine or suspension or rev.
ocation Of his license.
Although operations for the next
two weeks will be on a trial basis,
there apparently was thorough will.
ingness on the part of all airlines, itin.
Grant pilots and the military services.
Virtually without exception, pilots are
submitting flight plans before taking
off and subjecting themselves to full
control.
Under the control plan, every pilot
before taking of is required to submit
a flight plan for his projected trip.
This gives the name of the pilot, type
and number of the airplane, course
to be flown and proposed altitude
throughout, together with time of de-
parture and anticipated time Of ar
rival.
Traces All Planes.
The traffic control office, through
radio and ground teletype circuits.
keeps track Of every airplane through
out the flight, tracing its position with
marker on a master map in the con-
troll tower and in duplicate on a mas
ter board on the wall
In case airplanes are operating in
the same vicinity, passing one an
other along an airway, or arriving at
or leaving the airport at about the
same time, the pilots are warned by
radio of the location. altitude and
direction of fight of other planes.
The traffic control officers, with full
Federal authority to back them, can
prescribe changes in altitude of flight
or the increase or decrease of speed
Ala 1lAs ~ RiCtCl1G i4dLdI u vi OOllAclO1l
in flight or approaching the airport.
The Washington Airport station Is
in charge Of Bob Eccles, manager, who
came here after training at the New
ark station. He is assisted by Tom
N. Gore. Two other control men are
to be added before the station goes
into full operation. Meanwhile, the
most complete trial operation possible
will be carried on, In view of the
shortage of personnel. Some addi-
tional equipment is yet to be in
stalled.
How Control Is Maintained.
The control tower men are in con-
slant communication with the radio
operators Of the three major airlines
operating out of Washington, with the
radio operator Of the Goodyear air.
ship, with the Commerce Department
Airways Communications Service and
with Boiling Field and the Anacostia
Naval Air Station.
Through these contacts, they are
able to check the movements of the
IA scheduled airliners now operating
here each "a hours and the scores of
Army, Navy. Commerce Department
and private airplanes operating in this
vicinity daily.
Every word spoken between the
control tower and any of the many
sources of its information on airplane
movements is recorded on dictaphone
records, forming permanent record
for future reference.
When the tower goes into full opera.
tion next month and when its officers
are backed by the full weight of Fed
eral authority, the chances for COLI
lisions between aircraft in flight along
the airways to and from the city or
for mix-ups in approaching the airport
are expected to be virtually eliminated.