Evening star., 1941-07-09
New Agency Expected
To Be Set Up Soon
To Control Air Traffic
Recommended Plan
Would Assert u. S. Rule
Over All NovieobIe Space
BY w. II. SHIPPEN, Jr.

President Roosevelt is expected in
order soon setting up a single agency
for controlling traffic on alrWayS be-
.oming more crowded daily with mil
itary and civilian planes.
The first step. said 10 have been
approved by the President, probably
will be the establishment Of one
authority to deal with traffic prob
lens of service. commercial and
private airplanes flying over the
United States, its territories and pos
sessions.
The plan recommended by the new
1nterdepartmental Air Traffic Con-
troll Board would assert Federal jur-
isdictlon over all navigable air space
end extend the scope of regulations
now generally restricted to eStab-
liShed airways and the vicinities of
alrports.
Extensive Survey Conducted.
The board. consisting of repre-
sentativeS of the Army. Navy, Civil
Aeronautlcs Administration and Civil
AeronauticS Board. has conducted
survey over the greater part of the
United States and formulated de-
tailed recommendations after dis
cuSSing them with hundreds of rep
resentatives of every phase of avia-
ton.
The report has been submitted to
the President. who. it was said, ap-
proved at least two basic recon-
mendations. The board members
felt the need for action in view of
the increasing dangers to naVlga-
ton brought about by an enormous
growth in flying Of all types-pilot
training both civilian and military;
the testing and transporting of
military airplanes. and the expan-
sion of commercial and private oper-
atoms.
The report. it was said, already
has the approval of the depart
mental heads involved. Experts ex-
planned that only by unified SyS-
tenn can definite air space be
assigned to definite users as an in
surance against unexpected intru-
sionS.
Administrator Suggested.
It was suggested that an admins
traitor or co-ordinator be appointed
b. act on the advice of an interde
partmental council.
The council would formulate fur
ther regulations deemed necessary
and enforce through the necessary
agencies the co-ordinated utilization
OF the air.
Under the present setup the c. A.
A. has no authority 10 control the
movements of military aircraft, it
was said. nor could military author
ities penalize a civilian pilot for acts
which might be considered 10 jeop-
ardize an Army or Navy airplane
While the c. A A. can fine or
ground civilian pilots for certain in
fractions. most penalties have been
nothing more than temporary sus-
pension of pilots licenses. In many
quarters it is felt that teeth should
be put in the regulations.
The board has developed new
traffic patterns for the establish
ment of clear channels to and from
busy airports. In the pattern each
aircraft and agency would be as
signed a definite air sector.
Safety for Lives Seen.
Such strict regulation re-
marked a member of the board,
might be tough on the casual
pilot, civilian or military. who wants
to hop across an airway on some
mission or other-maybe to see his
girl or get in some flying time.
"But-and l speak from expert
ence-the new rules will be a relief
to men who have to fly heavy,
fast ships in all sorts of weather
Only recently. the board members
had an illustration of this over
West Coast city. A student in
training spun by our transport and
moment later a big military air
craft-no matter which service it
belonged-clipped by us on the
wrong level for the direction in
which he was headed.
The new regulations may be a
pain in the neck to lot of pilots.
hut T for one am convinced they