Evening star., 1941-06-15
Grave||Y Airport
To0pen Tonight
For Operations
All Three AirIines
Schedule Flights
After Midnight
By JOSEPH S. EDGERTON.

With many details OF the transfer
still in doubt and the ultimate tate
of old Washington Airport still un-
settled. Washington National Air
port. at Gravelly Point, will be open
for full-time air transport opera
tions at midnight tonight.
1t still is not certain whether all
three of the airlines will be able
to transfer all of their operations
tonight to the new field. which still
is under construction, but all OF
them were scheduled to move flight
operations after midnight.
No ceremonies are to mark the
full-time opening of the Sl5 600 900
airport, which is expected TO rank
as a world model. The only cere-
mony in connection with the closing
of fight operations at Washington
Airport will be the diSpatChlng by
Samuel J. Solomon, airport manager
who recently was elected president
of Northeast Airlines, of the final
airplane from the old field.
Last fight honors at Washington
Airport are scheduled to fall to
southbound transcontinental air
liner of American Airlines, due in
from New York at 11:57 pm. and
out at 1901 am.
First Arrival Due at 1918 AM.
The first scheduled arrival at
Washington National Airport is that
of an Eastern Airlines southbound
New York-Tampa plane, due in at
12:15 a m. and out at 1890 m.
officials of the airmail post office
at Washington Airport said they are
packed up and ready to move to-
night if all the airlines complete
their moves. or on June % if any
OF the airlines are delayed.
Officials of all three of the airlines
said they probably will be able to
move at least major part of their
operations tonight and possibly all
of them.
In the meantime, however, the
fate of Washington Airport still
hangs in the balance If the airlines
are able to transfer all of their
operations to the new field tonight,
SNSIN ClIlJlON Will NC lilON0N Oul Va
the old field tonight and it will be
padlocked and abandoned tomorrow.
Every emplove has been taken care
Of Mr.. Solomon reported. Most
of them will go to the new airport
either on Federal or airline pay rolls.
Employees of National Aviation
Corp. which owns and has operated
the old field, will remain with the
corporation occupying offices in
Washington at least temporarily.
Army Has Option on Old Field.
Congress has authorized purchase
by the Army of the old airport and
the War Department holds a 90-day
option on the property which is to
expire about July "a The Army has
made detailed surveys of the old
airport. but, so far, it is uncertain
whether the purchase will be COM
pleted or the option will be per-
mitted to expire One War Depart
ment plan. it is understood. calls
for use of the airport as a military
airdrome, while another would add
1t to the Arlington Cantonment as
a parade ground and building area.
Washington National Airport still
lacks many of the important facili-
ties required for full operation.
Fueling pits have not been COM
pleted due to conflict with defense
priorities. and it will be necessary to
fuel the airline planes from trucks,
probably until late summer. Auto
matte baggage handling equipment
has not been completed for the same
reason and relatively inefficient
method of ''manhandling' the bag
gage will be employed.
Many of the concessions, including
the beautiful new dining room,
which is expected to become a major
Washington attraction, are not yet
ready to open. but all of them will
be ready within few weeks Much
landscaping remains to be COM
pleted. Most of the technical faCili-
ties, including airways and airport
traffic control installations of all
kinds, radio, and airport lighting
have been in operation for some
time. Among them are facilities
especially designed which are un-
equalled anywhere in the world
today.
Runways Ready.
The runways, taxi strips and
aprons have been paved for several
months and have been used by all
three of the airlines at intervals
since last December when the new
(See AIRPORT, Page BID