Evening star., 1942-04-30
National Airport
Gets Device for
Blind Landing
Third Dimension
Added by UItro-Hieh
Rodio Frequeneies

kooio FrequencIes
Flying 'on the BEAM is fine, but
1t doesn't bring a pilot into an air.
port: it only brings him over it.
This lack Of a third dimension In
existing flying aids for pilots has
led to installation at the Washington
National Airport of the only precise
blind landing system in this section
of the country.
The system is being installed by
the Civil Aeronautics Authority. It
works through ultra high radio fire.
quencies, up to rs megacycles.
Besides adding the up-and-down
dimension so that a pilot can land
practically blindfolded, the ultra
high frequency eliminates static,
which always was drawback of the
radio beam.
Undecided on Instrument.
John Groves, airport manager,
said yesterday that final decision
has not been made on the type of
device to be used in planes that
Will ny on TIE new system. An in
strument similar to q cross-hair
machine-gun sight and an ordinary
arrow indicator are being considered,
The system can be operated through
earphones like the present radio
beam. s., ~
The system is not yet complete.
but Will be finished in about 90 days.
Mr.. Groves said. Red neon lights
are being installed on piles in the
river to make landing at the airport
as foolproof as possible.
The airport as originally planned
should be finished by June Is. &C
cording to Mr.. Groves. There is
only one runway still under con-
struction. Sodding and grading Of
the rest of the landing area has been
completed
Five new hangers recently have
been built. The new hangers and
the one with which the airport
started will house 10 large transport
planes, Mr.. Groves said.
Business Rises Sharply.
Volume of business has increased
tfree-fold, Mr.. Groves declared,
since the airport opened last sum-
mer. Seventy thousand passengers
a month are being flown and there
are SO scheduled flights a day.
When the airport master plan"
finally is executed, $l6,000,O00 will
have been spent on buildings, con-
structioR and improvements, Mr..
Groves revealed.
Anticipated income for the fiscal
year ending June 81 is approximate
ly $500 900. Operating expenses will
ansount to about 100000. An aid
in meeting operating EXPENSE is
the 10-cent charge for visiting the
observation platform So far this
has netted about SIS, 900, Mr.. Groves
said.
An old standby at airports which
Mr.. Groves believes is probably on
the way out here is the airplane
sightseeing tour. Existing regula-
tions prohibit sightseeing planes
from flying more than three miles
In any direction away from the
airport.
The large restricted area over
the District also has caused the
aerial sightseeing trip to wane in
popularity.
Work Under Way.
Work now under way at the air.
port includes expansion of the pres
ent employees cafeteria and con-
struction of another cafeteria be-
hind the new hangers. This is being
done, Mr.. Groves said, to relieve
the grill, intended for use by air.
line passengers but now almost
monopolized by airport personnel.
About 2.300 persons now are en-
ployed at the airport, including the
entire operating and executive office
stan OF one airline. Less than 1000
went to work there when the air.
port opened.
The buildings of the Bureau of
Public Roads. on the fringe Of air.
port property facing Mount Vernon
boulevard, eventually will be en-
tirely occupied by C. A. A. employees.
Mr.. Groves said. The bureau is
building another station near Great
Falls on the Virginia side.
Inc latest newcomer to the air.
port is the Army field force which
will move into its new building there
about June /. ALI air force offices
will be located in the building now
under construction northwest of the
airport administration building.
Mr.. Groves estimated that about
5000 persons would work in the new
offices, which Nwill cover 100000
square feet.