Evening star., 1937-10-28
PRESENT AIRPORT
PURCHASE URGED
|. BY R|CKENBACKER
U. S. Could Develop Fine
Field for S2,5OO,OO0,
He Declares.
'NEARNESS TO DOWNTOWN
AREA HELD ADVANTAGE
Enlargement by Removing Rail-
road Tracks Called for in Plan
of E. A. T. Official.

Federal purchase and improvement
of Washington Airport at an esti-
mated cost of S2,500,c00 is advocated
by Capt Edward v. Rickenbacker,
general manager of Eastern Air Lines.
in a recommendation now pending
before the Bureau of Air Commerce,
it was learned today.
Such a program. Capt. Ricken-
backer said, would offer the city
of Washington one of the finest air.
ports in the country and certainly
one with proximity to the heart of
the city unequaled."
Eastern Air Lines, heaviest user of
the local airport. has protested TO
the Commerce Department the i'm
position of Federal restrictions on the
use Of Washington Airport by air
planes of the Douglas DC-2 type and
on the landing of the larger Douglas
DC-3 airliner. It also has strongly
advocated the retention of Washing
ton Airport and protested the pro-
posed emergency transfer of airline
operations to Boiling Field.
NoPOs AeANhtAAOdIhCl bllc NOlll-
merce Department that Washington
Airport could be purchased for ap-
proximately s1,500.00O. 1t would cost
approximately s1,000,O0O more, he es-
timated, to make necessary improve
mentS.
Would Enlarge Port.
These would include enlargement
of the airport by moving the Penn
sylvania Railroad spur line along
the west side of the airport so as to
permit extension of an east-west run
way into vacant land beyond the pres
ent spur, elimination of smokestacks
and other obstacles near the field and
necessary grading and filling.
This program could be completed
within one year. Capt Rickenbacker
said. whereas the location of new
field would in all probability be many
miles from the heart of the city, cost
several million dollars more and take
minimum of three years to develop"
Capt. Rickenbacker also pointed out
it is proposed to eliminate the Navy
radio towers at Arlington following
completion of the new naval radio
research base at Cheltenham, Md.
Capt. Rickenbacker urged that the
Goodyear airShip hangar at Washing
ton Airport and other hangers on the
former Hoover Field be removed i'm
mediately to permit construction Of
an additional runway across that area.
This new runway would have to cross
Military road to the east Of the cross
ing point of the present 4,200-foot
runway, lengthening the section of
the road over which anti-collision
control must be exercised, he said.
Capt. Rickenbacker vigorously de-
MED that he in any way coerced the
group of Eastern Air Lines pilots who
last month petitioned the Bureau Of
Air Commerce to lift the Washington
Airport restrictions.
Urges Continuation.
He explained that continuation OF
Washington Airport is indispensable
to continued operation of the hour
ly "merry-go-round" air service be-
tween Washington and New York.
II have used what We term the
merry go-round' as a school for new
pilots and a seasoning operation for
those co-pilots who have graduated
into captains in order that they may
be familiar with our operation and
available with the least possible haz-
ard for our peak traffic season, which
is in the height of bad weather." he
explained.
1T is a known fact that as a
safety measure nothing equals WE'LL
roundabout, well-seasoned flying per-
sonnel. Should we be forced to move
our operations to Boiling Field in spite
of the increased hazards there, it
means the elimination of the. merry
go-round' and the personnel neces-
sary for its operation.
1T further means the addition Of
new pilots in the fall and the fur
loughing of them in the spring, as
the 'merry-go-round' operation has
continually lost money. In spite Of
these losses I have been able to con-
vince our Board of Directors that it
is in the interest of safety, economy
and good business to operate the
'merry-go-round.'
I'm view of the above facts 1 have
been accused of coercion and intimi-
dation of our pilots.
IF keeping our pilots constantly
employed at the highest salaries be-
ing paid in the industry and looking
out for their family welfare, as we'll
as the safety of the public, is con-
sidered coercion and intimidation.
gladly and willingly accept the chal-