Evening star., 1940-10-08
Airport Expansion
Will Provide Boost
ToPi|ot Training
President Is Expected
To Sign Bill Carrying
Fund of sac, 900, 900
By JOSEPH S. EDGERTON.


of the first supplemental civil func-
tions appropriations bill, which car
ries $40 1000, 900 for the construction
and improvement of civil airports.
The airports of the United States
are insufficient in number and IA
cilities to handle even the present
needs of the preparedness program,
according to studies made by the
Civil Aeronautics Board and other
agencies.
The $4,000, 900 item is to be used
to improve or build outright some
$50 airports in all parts of the coun-
try. The individual projects are to
be designated by an interdepart-
mental committee, but it is probable
that the Army Air Corps will have
the deciding voice.
Program Is Only a Start.
The S4O,0OO0OO appropriation is
regarded as hardly more than a
start on long-range plan of the
Civil Aeronautics Authority which
calls for the expenditure of $780,
100000 over period of three years
to meet maximum defense and civil
pilot training needs and the growing
requirements of air transportation
and private flying.
An immediate appropriation of
$3.50, 100000 would be required for
full-scale beginning Of the airport
construction program, according to
Gill Robb Wilson. president of the
National Aeronautic Association and
former State aviation director of
New Jersey.
Such a sum" he said, is In
proper ratio to the huge total of air
defense expenditures, which cannot
be made fully effective without ade-
ouate landing facilities"
The full-scale. long-range pro-
gram, according to Assistant Secre-
tary of Commerce Robert H. Hinck-
ley. would provide network OF ap-
proximately 1000 airports. includ-
ing developments in Alaska, Hawaii
and the South Pacific islands. The
program. he said. was worked out
with the co-operation Of the Army
and Navy. The original plan had
been framed to provide 5000 900
worth of construction work, exclu-
sive of the cost of any land or
buildings, over a period of six years
Under extreme pressure. however.
the plan might be carried out in
three years, Mr.. Hinckley said.
President Requested SS0,000,000.
On September 16 President Roose-
welt requested an S80,000.000 ap-
preparation by Congress to Initiate
the long-range airport plan. to be
made up of S30,OO0.000 in cash and
s5O,OOO,0OO in contract authorizations
for this fiscal year. The House ap-
proved the items without dissension.
but the Senate knocked out the
appropriation and authorization. In
conference. half of the original
House item was restored In the
form of an immediate cash ap-
preparation.
Mr.. Hincklev pointed out that the
acute need for more and better
landing fields is the result OF un-
precedented increases during the
last year in all forms OF flying,
both civil and military.
"The airlines are getting twice the
increase in business they expected"
Mr.. Hinckley said. The civil pilot
training program used ABS airports
last year: the number has jumped
to 700 fields now and may be 1000
by spring-and traffic on these fields
Is relatively much heavier.
Need Is Growing.
"The Army, Navy, National Guard
and Reserve will need more than Is
civil airports for tactical or train
ing work already planned, and prob
ably will need more as the defense
program progresses. Morever. as the
military air force expands. they will
need hundreds of good-sized. all
weather airports at strategic points,
both for tactical movements and as
actual bulwarks against possible ag-
gression."
The long-term plan calls for in
creasing the number of major civil
airports from 36 to about 500: OF
medium sized airports from 245 to
about 1900. and of smaller fields
from 1876 to about 1900. These
figures are in addition to the 78
airdromes operated by the Army or
Navy today.
THE oft-uuoted statements that
there are $500 airports in the
United States is totally misleading.'
said Mr.. Wilson. Many hay fields
in which an airplane never has
landed are better than many OF the
listed airports.
Only Per Cent Paved.
"Although the Federal agencies
have done all they could with funds
available, only per cent OF the So
called airports have paved runWays
and only II per cent have surfaced
runways Due to lack of lighting IA
cilities, less than one-flfth of the
fields can be used except in day
light. Scheduled air transportation
operates from less than 225 airports.
AlIeduy llle sIOWUI VI Sl'i diIu
military pilot training is overtaxing
the capacity of air fields in key
areas. Reports received by the N.
A. A. indicate congestion of air
traffic at many ports. This condi-
ton is menace to safety"
Private Flying Hampered.
Mr.. Wilson said that. as condi-
tions now stand, private flying,
which he characterized as IAN i'm
portant defense reserve, may largely
have to be grounded in event of
military emergency and even COM
mercial operations would be ham,
pered.
ALREADY private flyers have been
grounded at some fields taken over
by the armed forces" he pointed out.
Hybla Valley Airport, near Alex
andria. Va. taken over by the
Anacostia Naval Air Station as a
primary training base, is an example
More curtailment is inevitable in
the immediate future as new mill
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