Evening star., 1947-02-09
Extra AIirports
For DC. Urged
In Nearby States
ChuntiIly, Vu., and
BeltsviIIe, Md, Are
Sites Listed by cAA

Development In the next three
years Of alternates for National Air.
port at nearby Chantilly, Va. and
Beltsville, Nd, was recommended
yesterday by Civil Aeronautics Ad-
ministrator T. P. Wright In list Of
.4,4sl airports which he feels should
be built or improved under the
Federal airport program.
Because Washington's busy air.
port nears the saturation point
even In good weather and is badly
overcrowded when landings are
slowed down by bad weather, Fed
eral experts feel immediate con.
sideration should be given to plan.
ming q large alternate In the Cham
tilly area, about 20 miles west Of
the Capital In Fairfax County.
The detailed list for % Maryland
and - virginia airports recom-
menis that "Class s. airports, the
largest size IN terms Of length OF
runway, be developed II possible
at Chantilly, new site to be Sc
lected later, and at Beltsville as
an Improvement on the present
Glass 8 field there, which Is now
under lease to the Navy.
Projects in List to Cost 1886, ,S0O, 900.
While no detailed estimates were
made by Mr.. Wright, the larger air
ports on the Nationwide list would
average more than 81 ,000, 900 each.
CAA ofiicials said 1t seems probable
neither nearby community could
match the Federal outlay, as re-
quired under the general plan, since
the alternates would be developed
to relieve Government-owned and
operated National Airport Of heavy
traffic.
Projects on yesterdays list were
estimated to cost 1886 ,800. 900, OF
which the Federal share would be
SAL, 500 900, and the local sponsors
share $544, ,200, 900. Under the Airport
Act, authorizing $500 ,000, 900 In Fed.
eral funds over q seven-year period,
Congress may appropriate as much
as 500, 0,000, ,000 for use In any one
year.
For the current fiscal year, ending
July 80, Congress appropriated $45,-
900, 900 for airports, mostly IN the
smaller classes /, 2 and 3. The Dis
trict of Columbia's share was more
than ST., 900, but the Commissioners
so far have not taken advantage OF
the Government offer because no
funds are available to match the
sum and no site for small airport
has been agreed upon in the District.
Use for Air Cargo Seen.
A number Of small fields in Mary.
land and Virginia were included
tkSaong 800 listed q few weeks ago.
H receive current appropriations.
| Federal planners believe that
f1eld with adequate runways near
Chantilly would serve National not
tofl1y as An instrument weather alter
mate but as the eventual terminal
for air cargo. They were unable
| to comment, however, on what effect
the new recommendation might
have on Navy operations at Belts
vile.
Principal undertaking on the
Maryland list Is Baltimore's new
municipal airport at Friendship
Church in upper Anne Arundel
County. It will be "Class s" held
with paved runways between $500
and $500 feet long.
Smaller Fields Listed.
improvements not extensive
enough to change classifications
were listed for the Glass 8"
Frederick Municipal Airport.
New "class q fields, with an l1n-
paved landing strip 2,700 to 3,700
feet long or a paved runway not
more than 200 feet shorter, were
scheduled for Frostburg and Ocean
City.
New "class /" fields, with an un-
paved landing strip 1900 to 2,7o0
feet long or q shorter paved run
way were listed for Gaithersburg.
La Plata, Prince Frederick, Reisters-
town, Towson and Westernport.
In Virginia, q new class 8 field
will be constructed at Charlottes-
vile and new class 2 fields at Fred
ericksburg, Front Royal, Harrison
burg, Lexington, Luray and Orange.
The present Staunton Municipal
field will be raised from class to
class 2 and the field at Warrenton
will be made a class !.
New class fields will be created
at Fairfax, Colonial Beach, Cul-
pepper, Luray lin addition to the
class q and Woodstock.