Evening star., 1940-11-05
Doubling Of Domestic
Airline Fleets Seen
As Vital by July, 1912
Drop in Cargo Rates
Would Further Add TO
Need, 1t Is Contended
By JOSEPH s. EDGERTON.

keep pace with continued growth
of air traffic and to meet the in
creaSing demands for air trans
portation in connection with the
national defense program. must
have a total of approximately 500
new aircraft before the middle of
1912, approximately doubling the
present transport fleet.
These requirements must be added
TO the aircraft production needs for
American defense and for Great
Britain, since the air transport pro-
gram is intended to reach COM
pletion coincidentally with the
present British and defense air.
craft programs.
The estimate of 500 new aircraft
for the air transport industry was
made by the Air Transport AS
sociation of America as the result
of a survey of the requirements OF
its member airlines and current air
traffic trends.
The survey is ,egarded as oil
especial Importance in view OF the
pending hearings before the Civil
AeronauticS Board in connection
with an investigation of the alleged
air cargo monopoly exercised by
the Railway Express Agency. The
agency now is acting as the agent
for all domestic air transport lines
under a temporary certificate OF
convenience and necessity issued by
the G. A. B.
Contend Rates Too High.
1t has been contended that the
Railway Express Agency is holding
air express rates up to artitlclally
high levels and thus is sitting the
development of air cargo business.
Should a drastic rate reduction be
inforced, it is certain that a very
great increase in air cargo carrying
would result, in the opinion OF OFF,
cials of the National Aeronauuc
Association and other aviation or
carnations. This would correspond
ingly increase the requirements
of the airlines for additional air
planes and might result in the
establishment of air cargo lines,
pure and simple.
TT is apparent that between the
present time and the middle of 1912
this industry needs 500 new air.
craft" Col. Edgar S. Gorrell, presi-
dent of the Air Transport AsSocla-
ton. said in report made recently
to the association.
Whether this need can be full
filled depends upon the exigencies
of such more urgent demands as
may be placed upon the manufac-
turing facilities of our Nation. But
even if all these aircraft are avail
able to us by the middle of 1912, we
will still be hard put to it to carry
the traffic which by that time Will
be clamoring for transportation by
air.
Approaching Capacity Loads.
1t was pointed out that 500 new
aircraft would barely double the
present passenger-c carrying capacity
of the industry.
1--WE are already struggling with
a critical problem" Col. Gorrel re-
ported. The passenger load fac
tor of the domestic industry at the
present time is something over so
per cent and the traffic experts are
agreed that any such load factor Is
approaching absolute capacity. 1t
is only through profound advance
in overhaul and maintenance meth
ods, making it possible to use each
aircraft more intensively, that we
have been able thus far to keep pace.
1T is estimated that in the last
very few years the intensity of use
of domestic aircraft has been nearly
doubled. At the present time air.
craft on some domestic airlines are
probably being used on an average
of nearly 10 hours day, and we
can never make any more intensive
use of our equipment until we are
absolutely certain that safety will
not be impaired by one iota."
Col. Gorrell admitted that, "neces-
sary as it may be to the defense of
the Nation that the airline equip
ment requirements be met, we rec
ognize that the needs of the military
and naval air forces are para
mount"
Every effort is being made, he
said, to coordinate the air trans
port program with the military pro-
grams "to the end that both equip
ment and personnel problems may
be solved as the best interests of the
Nation may dictate"
Revenue Mills Increase.
The air transport lines have re-
ported an increase of 62 per cent
in revenue passenger miles flown
within the United States during the
first eight months of this year. as
compared with the same period of
last year. During 1899 the revenue
passenger mileage own by the do
mestic lines increased AZ per cent
as compared with 1898. The rate
of increase is continuing on
steadily rising curve, as indicated by
figures for the past five years.
In the business Of air express
there have likewise been notable in
creases," Col. Gorren reported. Dur
ing the first eight months of 1910
the pound miles of air express on
the domestic airlines were AGO.
766,817, a 27 per cent increase over
the 3,273, 1897 of the same period
a year ago. And in August of 1910,