Evening star., 1937-09-01
AIRPORT SAFETY
STEPS POWDERED
Bureau of Air Commerce
Seeks to Eliminate Field
Hazards.

air transport hazards while the Capt.
tai awaits more adequate facilities
were under investigation at the Bu-
rea Of Air Commerce today.
At melting of more than a score
Of air line executives, pilots and air
port officials at the Department Of
Commerce yesterday afternoon Fred
D. Fagg, jr., director Of the bureau,
promised immediate action.
With this assurance representa-
tives of the Airline Pilots Associa-
ton, which had threatened to stop
bringing transport planes into
Washington unless promised by Sep
tember II a new airport, indicated
they were willing to make any rea-
sonable compromise as a temporary
measure. They are not receding from
their condemnation Of the Washing
ton Hoover Airport as unsafe, they
emphasized.
Fagg planed to hold today the first
Of series of technical conferences
with experts, hoping to minimize
dangers to the point where trans
port service could continue until
more permanent facilities are pro-
vided.
Informal Exchange Of Views.
Yesterdays conference, which was
executive, was described as an in
formal exchange of views by all the
interests directly affected. The meet
ing was called amicable with q CO.
operative spirit displayed.
Measures under consideration in
clude:
l. Elimination of the short runway
at the Hoover Airport
and use Of the long runway only
when weather conitions are favor
able for the heavy planes, with rigid
rules as to wind, ceiling and other
conditions
2. Use of Boiling Field as q stop
gap measure. Fagg said the Army
had prohered the field for emergen-
cies, and transport pilots would be
able to land and take of there if
weather conditions made the Wash
ington Airport too hazardous
Opinions expressed at the meeting
ranged from the assertion that the
Washington Hoover Airport was all
right" as now constituted to the con-
tention that it could not be made
safe under any conditions because of
surrounding typographical conditions
Bureau to Push Plans.
Discussing the conference, Fagg
said:
I'VE had q most friendly discus
sion of the situation, and I'm sure
the exchange of views will prove
helpful in solving this situation. The
bureau will 60 ahead with considera-
ton Of plans to eliminate. the hazards
which have been deserted"
Hope was expressed that President
Roosevelt would sign the Copeland
May bill enlarging the Washington
Hoover Airport. The bill faces an
automatic veto unless the executive
signature is affixed at Hyde Park by
midnight tomorrow. The pilots, how
ever, regarded this, too, as only .
temporary expedient.
Tom Hardin of Fort Worth, Tex,
vice president of the Airline Pilots
Association, said after the meeting:
I'VE are not receding an inch. We
take the position that this airport
Is unsafe regardless of what improve
ments are made. We are unwilling
to continue to take all the RESPONSE
bility for the safety Of our ships.
The airport Is particularly dangerous
now. 1t Is absolutely necessary for
Washington to have . new and ade-
quate airport, and we are not willing
to compromise on that point.
Restrictions Suggested.
I'VE suggested q number Of re-
strictions II we are to continue to
use the field temporarily. These In
clude elimination Of the short run
way and use Of the long runway only
under rigid restriction regarding wind,
ceiling, fog and other conditions.
Boiling Field, think, Is adequate
for transports. It has . number Of
mile-long runways, and don't think
we would encounter any trouble there.
But that, Of course, Is . stop-gap
measure. We could not use the Army
field indefinitely"
Asked whether the pilots now were
willing to await legislat1on Ut the next
session Of ConSrfss before carrying