Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1947-09-16
Freezing Of Air Route,
Urged Until They Are
Developed Further
By the Associated Press

Two top officials of one of the
worlds biggest airline systems
recommended today that pres
ent air routes be frozen until
the industry has developed
them further.
This view was expressed by c. r.
Smith, chairman of American Air
lines, and John E. Slater, chairman
of American Overseas Airlines, in
statements submitted to the Presi-
dents Temporary Air Policy Com
mission.
Both men were called today for
questioning about their prepared
statements as the commission began
its second day of public hearings in
quest of facts on which to recon-
mend a new national aviation policy
Mr.. Smith said the airlines need
more attention to route operation
and less attention to route expan-
sion"
Would Restrict Competition.
Mr.. Slater, whose airline crosses
the North Atlantic to the Scandi-
navian countries and Germany and
expects to go on to Russia, urged
the policy planners to restrict COM
petition to the present amount until
the present pattern has had a
thorough trial"
American Airlines, this country's
largest domestic carrier, is a prin-
cipal owner of American Overseas,
and Mr.. Smith serves as AOA presi-
dent. Mr. Smith devoted his paper
largely to military and domestic
commercial flying. Mr.. Slater COW
cred the international field. Brief
ly, Mr.. Smith re commended that:
/. The Air Force determine the
Nations ong-range requirement for
air transportation.
2. The volume of civil air trans
port capacity be substantially in
creased.
3. The armed forces maintain the
nucleus of an air transport organ
iZation with balanced reserve
corps in civilian air transportation
familiar with military organization
and (wartime) requirements"
T. Military and civilian air trans
port facilities be combined in peri
odic training maneuvers.
5. The Air Force be responsible
for the development of new trans
ports.
6. There be a single agency, in
stead of two, as now, to administer
Federal aviation regulations.
MANIPULATION Treaty Urged.
Mr.. Slater proposed that:
/. The United States join many
nation air transport treaty to re-
place its present nation-by -nation
agreement system, provided it can
do so without compromising such
basic principles as those included
in the 1916 Bermuda agreement
with the British.
2. Civil airlines be used wherever
practicable, with the military flying
routes unimportant commercially
but important strategically or ex-
perimentally.
g. Steps be taken to eliminate
red tape" in international air
travel.
4. Continued use of the "zonal"
system in awarding air routes over
seas. The zone pattern is intended
to avoid overlapping service by
limited States carriers
Members of the presidential COM
mission were dinner guests last
night of Senator Brewster, Repub-
lican, of Maine, who heads a con-
gressional body assigned to the same
task.
Cooperative measures were dis
cussed at the dinner, but no def
mite steps taken, members of both
groups said. They described the
atmosphere as extremely friendly"
The Presidents commission is due
to report to Mr.. Truman January i.
The Brewster group Is to have a
report ready for Congress March l.