The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-12-04
AIRPORT NEEDS ' TO BE STUDIED BY CONFEREES
Inadequate Terminals Put Brakes on Transport
 Developments
By G. W. STEWART, JR.

United Press Stan Correspondent Washington, Dec. { CUP0-Avia- ton experts and ofncials of federal, state and municipal governments will meet Monday, Dec. 6, in an ate tempt to solve 8 nationwide airport problem which threatens progress in the entire air transport indus try.
 Col. J. Monroe Johnson, assist ant secretary of commerce, called the conference after consultation with Ofacials throughout the coun- try, to develop a national program of airport planning" designed to en- able city governments to keep their air terminal facilities in stride with rapid progress in airplane develop melnt.
 The situation, described by Direc- tor Fred B. Fagg of the bureau of air commerce as chaotic" arises from the fact that new planes under production, will require larger fields from which to take of and land. Those planes, built to carry more than 30 passengers at a speed of 230 miles an hour, will be ready for the country,s air lanes next spring or summer.
 Vast Terminal Cost
 The cost of developing an airport is tremendous and the amounts irl- vested in terminal facilities by city governments far exceeds the invest- ment in the transport industry itself, air commerce bureau officials point out. Yet many cities are heavily in debt as Q result of the depression and financing additional improve ments on airports would be eX~ tremely difficult in some cases, ofd- cials said. Further, some munich palities must get the approval of citizens before borrowing, or have statutory debt limitations which cotnplicate or prevent their obtaln- ing additional funds.
 Among the officials scheduled to take part in the discussions are Rear Admiral A. B. Cook, chief of the navy's bureau of aeronautics; Maj. Gen. Oscar Westover, chief of the army air corps, and the assistant chief, Brig. Gen. Henry H. Arnold.
 In addition, invitations have been sent to the Aeronautical Chamber of Commerce, Air Transport ASso- ciation of America, American Muni- cipal Association, Conference of Mayors, National Association of State Aviation Oficials, National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, WPA and postofiice department.
 General Plan Sought
 "The conference has been called in an effort to effect an interchange of ideas and opinions of those cor1- cerned with airports and to arrive at a comprehensive and coherent national airport plan which will be acceptable to all," Johnson said.
 Air commerce officials attach no blame to any of the parties involved for creation of the apparent inapasse. Nevertheless, the fact remains that if plane manufacturers continue to build larger ships, airport areas will have to be iacreased-unless the ships have technical improvements which will permit them to land in Q comparatively small space, they point out
 Army and navy officials, however, have advised that the new sky liners now under construction probably will not have any such new devel- opment.
 Among the major air terminals which probably will be required to enlarge their runways are Chicago, Kansas City and Denver. Both New ark, N. J., serving New York City. and San Francisco have facilities or are developing facilities which will be adequate for the new planes, oficials said.