Evening star., 1937-09-18
PILOTS DIVIDED
ON AIRPORT RULE
One Group Asks Exemption
for DC-2 Transports
in Regulations.

A serious division in the ranks Of
air transport pilots as to the safety
OF Washington Airport was revealed
today when it was learned that fly
ing personnel OF the Eastern Air
Lines hourly Washington-New York
service have petitiored the Commerce
Department TO lift restrictions on the
use of Douglas DC-2 airplenes st
Washington Airport.
Rules put into effect by the Bureau
OF Air Commerce September 7 re-
strict landings and take-offs by DC
and the larger DC-3 types to the
main 4,200-foot runway at Washing
ton Airport. They were enacted
chiefly upon the insistence Of the
National Air Line Pilots Association.
Claiming to represent all airline
pilots using Washington Airport, the
association delivered an ultimatum
on July TO the effect its pilot MEM
bers would refuse to fly from Wash
ington Airport unless safety condi-
tions were improved within so DAYS.
The association claimed opera ton
Of both the DC-2 and DC-3 types
from Washington Airport under cross
wind conditions was unsafe. After
long study Of the situation the Bu-
reau Of Air Commerce put into effect
the September ruling restricting
to the long runway the operation OF
all air transport planes having .
gross weight of more than $4,000
pounds. This limit made the ruling
applicable TO both types Of Douglas
airliners
Scon at DC-2 Restriction.
In their petition submitted to AS
sistant Secretary of Commerce J.
Monroe Johnson, however, pilots and
co-pllots OF the merry -go-round," as
the hourly Washington York
service is known In flying circles
contend there is no need to restrict
the operation OF the smaller De-
type
Voiclng sharp disagreement with
the findings of the National Air Line
Pilots Association, the merry 90
round' pilots asked the new regula-
ton be amended so as to exclude the
DC-2. Previously existing Federal
and airline regulation are suficient
to assure safe operation of the DC
type here, they said. They made no
objection to continued restrictions on
the use OF the larger DC-3 type.
The petition has been taken under
advisement by Col. johnson and Off
Gals OF the Bureau Of Air Commerce
Application OF the restriction to
the DC-2 type threatens the con-
tinued operation # the Washington
New York hourly service, the Com
merce Department has been informed
by Capt. Edward V. Rickenbac cker.
general manager Of Eastern Air Lines.
Transfer to Boiling.
Under the Federal ruling it would
be necessary to transfer operation of
both DC-2 and DC-3 airliners from
Washington Airport to Boiling Field
"'S'' WIN ~ ioSo Wibu component al
the airport reached velocity of 10 miles
per hour or more. Ground travel time
between downtown Washington and
the airport averages between 10 and
IS minutes, Rickenbacker said. while
more than As minutes is required for
the trip TO new Boiling Field. Addi-
ton of half hour to the travel time
between Washington and New York
would prove fatal to the "merry-go-
round because of the new high
speed railroad competition at lower
fares, Rickenbacker said.
We have two choices In the mat
ter Rickenbacker explained. "one,
to discontinue the local New York
Washington service completely, there
by eliminating nine sets OF crews from
our operation and the attendant me-
chanics. traf11c and airport employees.
or. two, to continue under the cir
cumstances and present restrictions
by dividing our efforts between Boil
ing Field and Washington Airport
with the investment OF many thou
sands of dollars. additional opera
tions expenses and the consequent
of traffic."