Evening star., 1944-08-05
Planners 10 Initiate
Survey Of Airfie|ds
For Peacefime Use
Studies to Be Undertaken
In Cooperation With
Maryland, Virginia Groups

Looking ahead to postwar ex.
pansion Of civilian aviation, the
National Capital Park and Plan
ming Commission has committed it.
self to initiating survey of the
Washington metropolitan area for
the purpose of lining up suitable
airfields.
In line with a suggestion made
by Eric Won Hausswo!ff, planning
consultant of the Civil Aeronautics
Administration, the Commission an
nounced last night it would under
take such studies in cooperation
with the Maryland and Virginia
planning agencies. John Nolen, di-
rector of planning. pointed out that
the Commission had made an ex-
tensive survey of air field sites in
1928. at time when the Govern
ment was seeking to establish a new
commercial airport for Washington.
Washington should get in on the
ground floor Of civilian aviation ex-
pansion. it was felt, because of the
prospect of getting Federal aid in
the establishment of air fields for
both commercial and ordinary civil
ian flying. Representative RAN
dolph of West Virginia has intro
Guced bill much along the line
of Federal funds for roads.
Reason for Early Survey.
The chief reason why an early
survey should be made, Mr.. Nolen
said, is in order that suitable sites
for air fields might be located wisely
in relation to existing developments,
transportation facilities and tran
sient needs of Washington and its
outlying regions,
He expressed the belief that the
survey should include an area
within a 25-mile radius of WASH
ington That would bring Anna
polls, Md, into the general picture.
Mr.. Hausswolf presented an array
of statistics bearing on the expected
expansion of civilian flying and
aviation training after the war and
estimated that Washington's ratio
of possibly 5000 privately owned
planes would call for at least 20
airports or airfields around the city.
He has been working out similar
solutions of the problems for other
cities.
Each of the 20 fields, he believed.
should have a capacity of a mini
mum number of 100 planes and
some should be built for a greater
number. Planning officials said the
various sites probably would call for
a minimum of 160 acres each to
provide runways of 1900 to $500
feet.
Commercial Aviation.
Washington is adequately pro-
vlded for commercial aviation. it
was believed. Aside from the Ma
tional Airport at Gravelly Point.
officials said it is probable the huge
Army Air Base at Camp Springs,
Md. would be made available for
commercial aviation if needed after
the war. 49, 49,
The original survey conducted in
1928 brought to light about so sites
deemed suitable then for airfield
developments. A great proportion
of those sites are not now available.
1t was believed, having been de-
voted to other uses However, the
Planning Commission feels that in
both Maryland and Virginia there
are still available a sufficient num-
Der OF areas suitable for both COM
mercial and private airfelds.
Before the war, it was said, seven
commercial landing fields were oper-
ating close to Washington and 13
other airfield sites were included on
the CommiSsions maps.
Mr.. Nolen said the Commission is
interested only in surveying physical
facilities at present, leaving other
technical aspects of the problem to
the future