Evening star., 1938-03-15
NAVY DEPARTMENT
OPPOSES SU|TLAND
FOR D. c. AIRPORT
Site Too Close to New U. S.
Radio Station, Asserts
Comdr. RubIe.
AREA BEST AVAILABLE,
VETERAN PILOT SAYS
Musick Tells House Committee
He Made Study at Request
of Mrs. Jenckes.

Objection by the Navy Department
today was believed to have eliminated
from consideration the proposed local
airport site at Suitland, Md
The Navy's objection, voiced by
Comdr. W. K. Ruble at hearing be-
fore the House Committee on Public
Buildings and Grounds, was based
on the same reason as the objection
to the Camp Springs, Md, site.
"The Navy Department has in
structed me to offer the same tech
nical objection to the Suitland site
as to the Camp Springs site and in
almost the same degree Comdr
Ruble said. There should be at least
10 miles between any airport site and
the new Navy radio station at Chelt-
enham, Md. Suitland is only miles
away and if it were developed there
would be a great deal of flying close
to our station.
More Than 100000 Spent.
"1n case of war. there would be
a great increase of activity at our
radio station and increased flying in
the vicinity of Suitland would not
be compatible with communication re-
quirements for national defense"
The Navy has spent between $500, ,OOl
and 100000 at Cheltenham and ex.
poets to have the station in full op.
Grafton this summer, Comdr. Ruble
said.
Harry Musick, veteran Pennsylvania
Central Airlines pilot, who has oper-
ated out of Washington seven years
testified that the Suitland site is the
best area available for development as
an air transport terminal
Mr. Musick said he had been re.
quested several months ago by Repre-
sentative Jenckes, Democrat, of In
diana to make study of local airport
sites for the benefit of members OF
Congress. He said his studies had
convinced him the Suitland area can
be developed to meet all the require
ments of the Capital as an air ter
minal. Runways from 5000 to 10000
feet in length could be developed at
an average elevation of 28O feet above
the river and out of the normal river
fog belt, the pilot said.
Four Square Miles.
David L. Behncke, president of the
National Airline Pilots Association,
advised the committee not to consider
any site of less than four square miles
in area.
The landing field itself should be at
least l mile square and should be
surrounded by at least half a mile of
protected area in all directions, he
said. He pointed out that the terrain
around Washington is very irregular,
and said the only sites available in the
immediate vicinity meeting his require
ment as to size are at Camp Springs,
Hybla Valley, Va, and possibly Suit
land"
Representative Wood, Democrat, of
Missouri. author of the recently intro
duced bill to establish an airport at
Suitland, told the committee he intro
duced his measure only because of his
conviction no other site is available
which meets the minimum require
ments and which is not jeopardized by
Federal development. This was before
Comdr. Ruble had voiced the Navy
objection. Mr.. Wood criticized the
activities of pressure groups" in con-
nection with the standing air.
port dispute.
There Is no doubt that these pres
sure groups, especially real estate pres
sure groups, have been at work ever
since Congress began consideration of
this matter" Representative Wood
said.