Evening star., 1947-01-10
Estimates
Commercial Aviation
Will Double in Year

Increased funds for airways and.
navigational aids and for develop
ment OF new power plants and su-
personic research were asked by
President Truman today in his
budget message to Congress.
The President estimated that Ill.,
600 civilian aircraft would be flying
in the United States next year, as
compared with $4,000 now. He said
the Government should recover a
reasonable share" of the cost of
service rendered to commercial car
riers on Federal airways.
Sharp increases were asked for re-
search on new types of jet propul-
sion-ram and pulse jets, turbo- jets,
rocket engines and turbo-piston and
turbo- propeller combinations. The
National Advisory Committee for
Aeronautics would get $40, 800 900
this year, an increase Of 20 per cent,
for fundamental research.
$54,552, 900 Asked for CAA.
This work includes problems for
piloted and robot aircraft and mis-
siles flying up to and beyond the
speed of sound. Such work demands
new laboratories and research
techniques, along with new training
methods and scientific equipment.
The new budget calls for $54,552.-
600 for the Civil Aeronautics Ad-
ministration to operate the airWays,
compared with $39,993,000 this year.
The proposal for establishment and
operation of air navigation facili-
ties is $25, 1874, 900 for 1948, compared
with s19, 1000.
Mr.. Truman told Congress that
"air transport will be seriously re-
tarded unless new navigation
facilities are promptly supplied"
Inadequate facilities and services
have caused serious congestion and
a threat to air safety" he wrote.
THE expansion and modernization
of the airways system provided in
these estimates is essential for the
continued progress of the industry
and could not be reduced without
great risk
Extension Estimated.
"As the rapid growth of aviation
continues, I believe 1t Is unwise to
place the entire burden of expand
ing, improving and maintaining the
airways upon the general taxpayer.
Instead, civil aviation should bear a
reasonable share. The Department
of Commerce is considering the
feasibility of various methods to re-
cover part of the expense from the
users"
He estimated that the airways
system would increase from 46,750
miles this year to 49,560 miles in
194S. The immediate need, he said,
is for installation of more instru-
ment landing systems "and addi-
ton of improved facilities, now
available through developments in
the field Of radar technology"
Army Air Forces research funds
were increased from S8s,500,O00 to
$145, ,323, 900. Navy research funds
remained almost stationary at STA
487.000.
Lie S1fl1 aClOlldutlCo AOIIlllllSIl L.
ton was given $1,660,000 for tech
nical development, compared with
$875 GOO this year.
Laboratory Funds.
The budget proposes that funds
for the National Advisory Commit
tee for Aeronautics aircraft engine
research laboratory at Cleveland be
increased from $10,s42 900 to $13,-
$4,000. The suggested budget for
the two aerodynamics laboratories
Langley in Virginia and Ames in
California, were $13,6l6, 900 and
s4, ,s21 900, respectively. Langley re-
ceived $11, ,785 900 and Ames $3,946,-
600 this year.
In general, the budgets for CAA
and the Civil Aeronautics Board.
which regulates the economic
aspects of flying and investigates
accidents, were increased around 80
per cent. The CABS safety bureau
budget was raised from 1855, 900 to
se16,00 .
Air Forces funds for buying new
aircraft would be increased to $40
100000 from $372,817 .000. The
budget proposes $50 1866 900 for buy
ing airborne and ground communi-
cation equipment, which more than
doubles this years figure.
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