Evening star., 1937-10-21
AIRLINE SERVICES
Of CAPITAL FACE
NEW CURTA|LMENT
Probable Restrictions at
Boiling Field May Halt
Large Ships at Times.
BOTH AIRPORTS HAVE
SHORT CROSS FIELDS
More Drastic Regulations Forecast
at Washington -Hoover-Pilots'
Views Sought.

Boiling Field, designated as an emer-
gency cir terminal for Washington
when recently imposed Federal re-
strictions closed Washington Airport
to larger types of airliners, probably
will be made subject to similar restric-
tions, it was learned today.
At the same time it was indicated
that Washington Airport restrictions
probably will be'made more severe in
the near future as result of studies
now being made by the Bureau of Air
Commerce.
The effect of restrictions at Boiling
Field, coupled with a Tightening Of
the limitations at Washington Airport,
it is believed, will be serious curtail-
ment of local air transport operations
during the coming months of late Fall
and Winter There is no other alter
native airport closer than Baltimore,
it was pointed out.
Has Same Defect.
Boiling Field is subject to the same
defect which has resulted in limitation
of operations at Washington Airport
a short cross field width, Although the
approaches to Boiling Field. especially
from the west, are regarded as better
than at Washington Airport, its cross
field runways are even shorter than
that at the commercial air terminal.
Both fields are short in the same
direction and would be subject to lini-
tations at the same time, it was pointed.
out. At times when limitations were
applied to both fields. operators of the
larger type airliners would have no
alternatives except to cancel local
operations outright or to transfer them
temporarily to Baltimore or Richmond,
1t is said.
The fact the Bureau Of Air Com
merce is considering imposing restric-
tions on operations at Boiling Field
was revealed by Assistant Director of
Commerce Howard Rough, who also
indicated that Tightening of the exist
ing restrictions at Washington Airport
is likely.
Pilots Views Sought.
No further action will be taken in
the local airport matter until every
phase of the situation has been studied
thoroughly, however, Mr.. Rough said.
AS a result Of serious disagreement be-
tween representatives of airline oper-
ators and pilots operating out of Wash
ington during a recent hearing at the
Bureau of Air Commerce, bureau Of
ficials now are polling individual pilots
on the question of operating restric-
tions here.
Until all questionnaires have been
returned and studied and until de-
tailed technical studies now being con-
Quoted by the bureau have been
completed, there will be no change in
the Washington Airport regulations,
Rough intimated.
The technical studies include motion
picture studies of the take-off charac-
teristics of the various types Of trans
port airplanes operating out of Wash
ington. PRONUNCIATION Of Boiling Field
restrictions also is expected to await
completion of the technical research
work
Washington Airport has cross
field runway just under 5000 feet in
length. This has been ruled too
short for airliners weighing more than
$4,000 pounds. The Federal restric-
tions, which become effective Septem~
Der Z, limit operation of airliners of
more than $4,000 pounds gross weight
to the 4,200-foot main runway at
Washington Airport.
May Restrict Smaller Ships.
The restrictions now apply only to
| airliners of the Douglas DC-2 type.
weighing about $4,000 pounds. and to
the Douglas DC-3, weighing about
81 900 pounds. The Bureau of Air
Commerce, however, is considering ex-
tension of the restrictions to include
even smaller airliners now using the
local airport.
Cross-field runways at Boiling Field
measure only 2,772 feet and 2,728
feet in length, according to plans of
the field submitted to airline operators.
Although the approaches from the
west, across the Potomac River. are
held to be far better than at Wash
ington Airport, those from the east,
over Congress Heights hill. are re-
garded as unsatisfactory. There is
growing opinion that the same re-
strictions applied to Washington Air
port should be applied to Boiling Field,