Evening star., 1946-07-24
Constellation
Ban Extended
For Changes
U. S. Official Expects
Planes to Be Back
In Service Soon
BY the Associated Press

1llC SiF41 aCl ClOildOgIS AQil1AI~
istration took steps today to keep
Lockheed Constellation airliners
grounded indefinitely, but a Gov
ernment official predicted the
planes will be back in service Gin
the not too distant future"
CAA requested the Civil Aero
nautics Board to revoke perma-
nently the airWorthiness certificates
for the Constellation Model 40, now
temporarily grounded as the result
OF fatal crash of one of the planes
two weeks ago near Reading, Pa.
The CAB in turn called on the five
companies to show why the Con-
stellation should not be removed
from service permanently.
The emergency grounding order
is due to expire August 10, but
CAA's latest action assures an ex-
tension until changes can be made
in the big four -engined transports.
used primarily in transocean service.
CAA technicians, headed by
Charles Dycer, director of aircraft
and components service, have been
comforting at Los Angeles with rep
resentatives of Lockhead Aircraft
and Wright Aeronautical Corpora
tionS and the three airlines which
had been flying Consultations.
A Government official, who asked
not to be named, said the CAA had
been getting full cooperation
from Lockheed' and there appeared
to be no reason why the plane
should not be in service as soon as
recommendation for changes have
been met.
Wiring System Criticized.
These changes involve the wiring
system and the location of certain
bulkheads.
Persons who are familiar with the
investigation of the Reading crash
say that CAB public inquiry next
week may be expected to show that
fire, which started in the wiring
system of baggage compartment.
would not have been dangerous in
itself. However, these sources say,
the pilot was blinded when the
opening of an escape hatch sucked
the smoke forward and filled the
cockpit.
In seeking withdrawal of air.
worthiness certificates, CAA filed
complaints against Lockheed, Wright
Aeronautical and the three air
! 1i,,oc ,,e,,,r tho rooctalIat ti1oc Dow
American Transcontinental .&
Western Air and American Over
seas.
| Asked If filing the complaint
meant the Consultations are con-
sidered hopelessly defective and
might have to be junked, CAA and
CAB officials said they were not.
The planes are believed to be basic
ally sound, they said.
Investment of S60,000, 900.
The 40-odd Consultations now in
use represent an investment OF
around s60,0Oo,ooo
The CAA action before the board
is formal procedure required under
the Civil Aeronautics Act of 1888,
which permits emergency suspension
of certificates for 80 days, pending
hearing by the board.
The board has notified all United
! States owners of the Constellation
model in question to reply to the
complaint within 10 days, or to
waive hearing. If replies are re-
ceived hearing date will be set by
the board, pending which the CAA
has authority under the act to ex-
tend the suspension another 80
days.
| The Consultations, each capable
of carrying 40 or more passengers,
were grounded for 80 days on July
IL after one of the planes had
crashed the previous day on a train
ing flight near Reading, killing five
crewmen.
| Grounding of the planes snarled
transoceanic travel and left scores
of passengers temporarily stranded.
1t had little effect on domestic serv-
| ice, however, since TWA was the
only company using the planes on
United States routes.
| Douglas DC-4s have been substi-
tuted for Consultations and trans
ocean service resumed with this type
pending final action in the Constel-
lation case.