Evening star., 1938-09-27
ADVISORY GROUP
TO WEIGH NEEDS
Of AIRPORT HERE
colnmittee to Meet With
Members of Authority
on October 4.
SURVEY WILL CONCERN
FACILITIES AND COSTS
Recommendation to Be Given
Congress on Whether System
Should Get y. S. Aid.


Should Get q. s. Aid.
The urgent need for an adequate,
safe air transport terminal for WASH
ington will be given priority consid-
Grafton at meeting Of . national
advisory committee with representa-
tives Of the new Civil Aeronautics Au-
thority here October 4, it was an
nounced today.
The meeting will be attended by
an advisory group of 20 representa-
tives of all Government departments
concerned with aviation matters and
Of economic and trade organizations
within and outside the aviation in
dustry.
Clinton M. Hester, administrator Of
the authority; Richard c. Galley,
chief Of the safety and planning di-
vision: Maj. A. B. McMullen of the
airport section and other officials of
the authority will meet with the ad-
visory group as first step in survey
ing the possibilities for national air.
port system, as required In the Cival
Aeronautics Act.
System Of Airports.
Under terms Of the act the authori-
ty is required to recommend to Con-
gress by February l whether the Ma
tional Government should participate
In the construction. improvement, de-
velopment, operation or maintenance
Of q national system Of airports, Mr..
Hester explained.
I'VE must determine, from the
ground up, just what part air trans
port now plays and may reasonably
be expected to play in the national
economy, and whether or not that
present or prospective part justifies
expenditure of public funds" he said.
I'VE seek to approach that task in
. manner as scientifically objective
as possible A true national economy
embraces the desires as well as the
needs Of its people. The plan Of this
survey will reveal. we believe, in
definite figures Just what part avia-
ton plays as medium Of transport,
As an implement Of industry and ag-
riculture, rs = social and recreational
facility and, Of course, as factor tn
national defense" 5.
/ Matter Of Deep Concern.
The local airport situation has been
from the first . matter Of deep con-
cern to chairman Edward j. Noble
and other members Of the authority.
During Q conference with President
Roosevelt September Mr.. Noble dis
cussed the local airport situation. The
President last spring sought to have
Congress enact local airport legisla-
ton to carry out his suggestion that
two local airports be provided, one IS
. downtown terminal and the other
as q major "all-weather" airport.
Following his conference with the
President. Mr.. Noble announced that
special consideration would be given
to the local problem. Onicials Of the
authority have discussed the local
situation Informally with ofdcials Of
tho Works Progress Administration;
but no hope has been given them.
1t Is understood, that relief funds
might be granted for local construc-
ton in view of the lack of agreement
rs to a site and because the use Of
emergency funds for Federal projects
In the District has been prohibited.
Mr.. Hester expressed the belief that
airports came within the direct prov
ince Of the authority, pointing out
Ata$ %b> . }rv,or% a e . to "a Sor q " ovAra -
tions Is essential to the air system.
To Be Launched October 1.
The survey, to be launched October
(, will deal with existing facilities and
the cost Of perfecting them and with
an analysis Of those costs in relation
to the service they may render.
A special section will be devoted to
the problem of the size Of airports
both in relation to their nearness to
the centers they serve and In relation
to the size, landing speed and other
requirements Of the airplanes, present
and future, which may be expected to
use them.
The question of airport size has
been one Of the problems which has
baked congressional committees in
their effort to reach solution Of the
local airport matter.
Pointing out that 1t would be i'm
possible to make q complete study Of
the $500 airports and landing fields
Of the United States individually, Mr..
Hester explained that the regional
supervisors Of the authority's airport
section had been summoned to WASH
ington and had recommended the
study Of some 800 airports and land
ing fields as sufficiently typical to
warrant conclusions Is TO national
and regional needs.
The Washington Airport is expect
ID to be high up on the list Of airports
slated for specific study. Included
among the 800 points are all Of the
200 odd stops on the scheduled air
lines. Washington Is one Of the three
most active airline terminals in the
world. according to previous surveys.
Examination Of Records.
In connection with its studies the
authority will make detailed ex-
animation OF records Of the Bureau
Of Air Commerce. which it took over,
and Of other departments Of the
Government, such as the Interstate
Commerce Commission, Census Bu-
reau, Post Once and military and
naval hles. It also will be given
access to records of the aviation in
dustry and its associations and to
those Of States and municipalities.
Those 30 far appointed as ofncial
representatives to attend the meet
ing, In addition to members of the
authority, are Balthasar H. Meyer,
acing chairman OF the Interstate
Commerce Commission; Charles p.
Graddick, superintendent Of postal air.
mail service; Rear Admiral Arthur
B. Cook, chief of the Navy Bureau
Of Aeronautics; Birg. Gen. H. H.
Arnold, acting chief of the Army Air
Corps; Capt. L. 7. Chalker, chief avia-
ton oficer. Coast Guard; 1t. Col. T. g.
HARRINGTON. chief ennineer w. p A.: