Evening star., 1937-07-09
AVIATION BUREAU.
EXPECTED TO BACK
PILOTS ON AIRPORT.
D. C. Commission Prepares
to Send Congress Its
recommendations.
CAMP SPRINGS SITE
is BELIEVED FAVORED
Maintenance of "Close-in' Ter
minal Also Is Thought Likely
to Be Suggested.

Belief that the Bureau of Air Com
merce will back up airline pilots in
their refusal to continue operation
of new high-speed transport airplanes
from Washington Airport was ex-
pressed in aviation circles today as
the District Airport Commission pre-
pared to file with Congress its rec
concentrations for development OF
permanent governmental airport for
Washington.
Following a four-hour session OF
the Airport Commission yesterday, 1t
was reported that its recommended
tons would be filed today with the
Vice President and Speaker.
Although the utmost secrecy has
surrounded all the actions of the COM
mission, there have been persistent
rumors that it will recommend de-
velpoment of site outside the metro
politan area on open, level farm land
near Camp Springs Md, about ii
miles southeast Of downtown WASH
ington.
Nav Urge Close In" Terminal.
There also have been rumors that
a site just beyond Bethesda, Nd, was
being considered. The commission
also was expected to recommend main
tenance of CLOSE in" terminal, the
site of which was not expected to be
named.
AS result Of the ultimatum OF pilots
operating out of Washington Airport
that they will refuse to continue to
land and take off the big. high-speed
transports here unless hazards are
eliminated, it was believed that a
showdown was approaching in the
long fight for adequate airport facil1-
ties for Washington.
The ultimatum of the pilots of
Eastern Air Lines and American Air
lines, delivered to the Bureau of Air
Commerce yesterday. was discussed at
a conference between Assistant Sec
retary of Commerce J. Monroe john
son, Director of Air Commerce Fred
D. Fagg, jr., and Assistant Director
Howard Rough late yesterday.
After the conference, Director Fagg
said that the bureau probably will
have something to say tomorrow
about the ultimatusn. He said that
the bureau has realized for long
time that conditions at Washington
Airport are not satisfactory
U. S. Action Held Next Move.
The next move is up to the Fed
eral Government, Edward G. Hanil-
ton. local representative of the Ma
tional Air Line Pilots Association,
which is acting for the pilots, said
today.
The pilots are determined that they
will not continue to risk their
lives and the lives of their passengers
indefinitely Hamilton said, Unless
something is done within so da.s to
remedy the insufferable condition
which exists here, the pilots are go
Ing to be forced to take the matter
into their own hands"
The association will rest on it's
ultimatum until reply is received
from the Bureau of Air Commerce,
Hamilton said He indicated tha the
association expects reply within
few days.
AS result of the associations ac-
ton and the statement of Mrs. Frank
lin D. Roosevelt yesterday at her press
conference calling attention to the
dangers at the local airport, pressure
was developing at the Capitol today
for immediate consideration of the
secret report of the Washington Air
port Committee, soon to be filed in
the Senate and House.
several occasions has threatened to
close Washington Airport to air trans
port operations. It has been no
secret for the past four years that
bureau officials have been watching
developments there apprehensively
and have been ready on an instant,s
notice to slap an embargo on airline
operations at the least sign of diff
Guilty. They have made it clear that
the airport is operating ION suffer-
ance,' in so far as the airlines are
concerned.
Elmer Cross, operations manager of
Eastern Air Lines, said that pilots of
his line now are given complete dis
cretlon as to whether they will land
or take off from Washington Airport.
There is no interference with them
from any source in deciding whether
to land here or to pass up the local
stop on any trip. Unless they are
satisfied in their own minds that it
is safe to make the attempt, they are
Informed that it is their right to
avoid the local field. Pilots exercise
their prerogatives on an average of
three or four times every week, he
said, and 60 right on by WASHINGTON.