Evening star., 1937-07-18
OFFICIALS SUBMIT
RULES TO PROTECT
LIVES AT AIRPORT
List of Instructions for Air.
lines Expected to Form
Operation Basis.
KING PRESENTS DRAFT
OF CAMP SPRINGS BILL
Boiling Field to Be Used in Emer.
gencies Pending Solution
of Problem.
BACKGROUND

6ACh hGROONO-
Washington Airport long has been
considered BY airline pilots to be
dangerous for neU hig'l-Spsed air.
liners. Ten days ago they serued
notice they lDould refuse to fly
there unless conditions 1Uere I'M
proued Withln so days. A te1O days
later the 14-month old District
Airport Commission recommended
to Congress Development OF a model
airport at Camp Springs, Md.
A draft of instructions to airllnes
setting up procedure to be observed
In local operations for the protection
of life and property has been sub
mitted to Assistant Secretary OF Com
merce J. NJ johnson.
Whipped into shape yesterday after
a prolonged session of Commerce De-
partment officials and airline pilots
the draft is expected to form the basis
of air transport operations here pend
ing the construction of the long
proposed model air transport terminal.
At the same time final steps were
being taken at the Capitol on the
drafting of a bill which would pro-
vide for the acquisition and develop
ment of an airport site at Camp
Springs, Md, by the Federal Gov
eminent.
King Submits Bill Draft.
Il have submitted a draft of the
bill to members of the commission" >"
said Senator King of Utah, chair
man Of the District Airport Commis-
sion. "As soon as they have had an
opportunity to 60 over the draft and
submit their views We will be ready
to go ahead. If there is any serious
objection to the bill, I expect to call
a meeting of the commission to see
II an agreement cannot be reached
at once SO that bills may be intro
duced in the Senate and House"
Pending a permanent solution of
the District airport problem. emer-
gency airline operations will be car
ried on at Boiling Field when Wash
ington Airport is unsuitable. under
the terms of an unwritten working
agreement" between the War and
Commerce Departments and the air
lines.
War Department permission for
the use of Boiling Field was granted
last Spring at the time Of the Po-
tomac river flood which put Wash
iy,o NJ tjN,, onG
never has been rescinded. it was ex-
planned yesterday by Gen. Malin
Craig Chief of Staff The permis-
sion has been renewed verbally, the
general explained. No written order
is necessary, he added. He said that
the Army always is ready to give the
fullest possible aid in any case of
public emergency and that the
Washington Airport emergency is no
exception to the rule.
Written Rules Unnecessary.
There's no need for written rules
and regulations to insure Army CO.
operation" Gen. Craig declared.
Gen. Craig said that the question
Of closing Military road has again
been raised as a means of improving
the safety of Washington Airport.
THE War Department would be
glad to close Military road" Gen.
Craig said, but I do not think that
We have the legal right to do so. The
road is no longer of value to the War
Department and We have no money
for its maintenance. 1t is in very
bad shape and we have erected signs
warning the public that the road is
In dangerous condition. Personally,
do not see why people continue to
use it. There is only 3 minutes
difference in travel time between Mill
tary road and alternative routes. In
view Of the bad condition of Military
road and the danger of crossing the
airport, it's not worth the difference"
No Formal Regulations.
The Bureau of Air Commerce prob
ably will not issue formal regulations"
governing the use of Washington Air
port by air transport planes, it was
said yesterday afternoon by Assistant
Director of Air Commerce Howard F..
Rough. The necessary Federal rules
in the case probably will be issued in
the form of instructions" to the air.
lines using the field. They will have
the effect, however, of regulations, in
30 far as individual pilots are con-
cerned.
Boiling Field is to be used, in case
OF emergency, only for the actual han
ding Of air transport schedules, it
was made clear yesterday at the Com
merce Department.. There will be no
maintenance or repair work carried on
there and no servicing beyond refuel-
ing, which will be handled by tank
trucks. Airliners which require other
servicing, under emergency conditions,
will discharge passengers and cargo
at Boiling Field and will be flown to
Washington Airport for whatever work
may be necessary. Tightening of the
arliners by the dropping of passenger
load and cargo is expected to make
1t possible for them to get into and
out of Washington Airport under con-
ditions which might be classified as
dangerous for the same airplane with