Evening star., 1939-07-16

instructor. These inspectors are to be-
gin their rounds between August and
August Is
The program is expected to estab-
lish new. high standards among the
Nations flight instructors and to 90
a long way toward stabilizing the pro-
fession. Wherever courses have been
given under the preliminary program,
the c. A. A. has made use of fixed
base aviation operators already in busi-
ness. These men. in addition to TAX
Ing over the college training programs,
have had their own work to carry
on. They have been unable to give
much, II any. time to their college
trainees during week end and holiday
periods when their own business peaks
are experienced. AS the major program
gets under way the supply of instruc-
tors is expected to grow and the pro-
portion OF instructors constantly avail
able is expected to increase.
The lack of sufficient conveniently To-
Gated airports, however, is likely to prove
the "bottle-neck" in the civil pilot train
ing program, as in the case of private
nying generally. It is regarded as i'm
perative that fields suitably designed
and located for training and for pri-
vate Tying be made available if proper
expansion is to be possible in the fu-
ture. There is an increasing tendency,
based upon entirely practical considera-
tions' to close airports used primarily
as air transport terminals to other
forms OF air operations especially to
training and private flying, which, OF
all the types of flying fit in the most
poorly with scheduled operations
In the vicinity of large cities the prob
lem already has become acute New York
now is preparing to forbid private flying
IN the vicinity of its major terminal air
ports and will from the start prohibit
any operations of this character from it's
$20,OOO,OO0 new North Beach Airport.
Washington National Airport, now
under construction at Gravelly Point.
IN all probability will be closed to
privately owned aircraft. 1t NAV even
be reserved as strictly airline terminal,
closed even to charter and sightseeing
operations.
Student Training Airports.
The solution, in future years, in the
light Of present experience, will be the
construction in the suburban areas of all
large cities of specialized airports for
student training, for purely sports flying
and possibly for aerial committing. New
York already has along the Manhattan
water front floats and service facilities
for seaplanes used by businessmen who
commute by air from Long Island and
New England points many miles away.
Washington is more fortunate than
many cities in the number and location
OF smaller airports suitable for private
flying operations, among them College
Park, Congressional. Queens Chapel
Capitol, Beacon and Mount Vernon Air
ways. Proposed construction of an alter
nate bad weather air terminal to serve
Washington, Baltimore and ANNAPOLIS in
emergency also should favor local flying
development. This airport probably
would be located in the general vicinity
of Laurel, Md.
One of the chief deterrents to the
growth of private flying has been the
relatively high cost of airplanes. Although
several types Of light airplanes now may
be purchased for less than $500, these
costs can be reduced by at least half, it
Is estimated, If sufficient market be-
comes available to permit mass produc-
ton methods. With the continued rapid
growth Of private flying and especially
with the growth which seems certain
once the c. A. A. pilot training program
gets into its stride, line production
methods are almost certain to come
within the next year or two.
One light plane manufacturer during
May produced total of 202 airplanes of
the private-owner type-the largest num-
Der ever produced by single plant in a
single month. All the light plane manu-
facturers are reporting new production
records. A number Of the more expensive
automobiles are produced by the mass
production method though the rate is
we'll below 200 month, it was pointed
out by Federal aviation of1icials.
Prices Expected to Drop.
Should the pilot training program Sue
ceed in breaking the airplane production
bottle neck, resulting in the establish
msnt of production methods of
manufacture similar to those found in
automobile plants. the price of private
owner type airplanes may be expected to
drop sharply. At the same time quality
viii be increased due to the more edcient