Evening star., 1947-08-03
Board Of Trade
Sees Impetus 10
PriivateFIying
Halls Designation Of
D. 6. as Terminal
For 'Skywoy No. i

An impetus to private flying and
recognition Of the eity's growing
Importance as a national and inter.
national air center" win result from
the designation of Washington as
the eastern terminal Of ~. s. Sky.
way No. l." w. I. Jack Nelson, new
chairman Of the Board Of Trades
aviation committee. said yesterday.
At the same time, the board re.
leased a study Of "Washington's Air
Trafic" which said the city needs
better commercial and private fly.
ing facilities for land planes and,
possibly, seaplanes. This Is the first
in proposed series of research
bulletins, the board said.
Under the skyway program, the
cities between Washington and Los
Angeles. the western terminal, soon
will be designated by the Civil Aero
nautics Administration. The board
said the CAA will make q test flight
to survey the route.
The skyway, 40 miles deep across
the country. will feature standard
markings, with the names of cities,
direction Of airports, compasses, ar
rows ana identifying signs along the
route to aid private flyers. Cham.
bers of commerce will be asked to
cooperate with the administration
in the program.
"Justifably Proud"
1--WE should be justifiably proud
Of the fact that the District has
been selected as the Eastern term
inal for United States Skyway No.
l." MIR. Nelson said. mot only does
1t give recognition to Washington
growing Importance rs a national
and international air center, but it
affords the Board of rrade-and
particularly the boards Aviation
Committee-a splendid opportunity
to help coordinate these plans and
cooperate in the development of
vast network of similar skyways to
aid private pilots.
The operation of such a system
going to every corner of the Nation
will certainly give boost to private
aviation to an extent 1t has never
before received. Much of the
hazardous guess work now present
will be removed from private flying
when the Civil Aeronautics Admin
istration in cooperation with the
local chambers Of commerce In.
stalls the projected marker system.
Zone Of the most important things
to be realized from the establish
ment of the Eastern terminal in
Washington is that long-felt need
for additional private flying facil-
tiles will be crystallized and brought
forcibly to the attention of the
proper authorities.
Airneld Need Seen.
''The primary need of private
pilots in the Washington area is
establishment of a District of Co.
,lumbia municipal airfield."
The boards research bulletin
listed Washington's principal ex-
ports by air for 1916 which totaled
$333,00o. They included aircraft
parts and accessories valued at $685..
900. The city's imports by air for
1916 totaled si11,3 ,389 with watches
and clocks valued at $4,000, art
works. $4,000. and precious stones,
$4,000, topping the list.
Concerning Washington's future
aviation needs, the bulletin said:
Congestion has already reached
the point where 1t is difficult to
schedule additional flights for the
airport. Even If the field here were
left completely free for commercial
flying alone the facilities would still
be overtaxed.
The problem requires an overall
study on regional basis to deter
mine how the needs of the com.
munity can best be made In order
to develop more fully our ever
increasing air trafic. Some plan
must be developed to take care of
the demands Of commercial flying
and yet provide additional facilities
for private flying.
Airport Plan Adopted,
THE Federal Government has re-
Gently adopted a national public
airport program whereby the United
States shares in the cost of air
ports developed by States or local
agencies. Washington's share In
this would be a little under $50 900
which is available If and when the
city puts up at least a matching
amount and develops an airport
meeting certain specifications. I'm
der this law, Federal aid would re-
main available for seven years.
"The money received from this
program cannot be utilized outside
Of the District of Columbia, and
therefore 1t would be necessary to
amend it In certain ways for de-
velopment within the entire metro
politan area.
There has been an Investigation
Of the problem of base and landing
place for sea planes. The results
Of this investigation show that the
only suitable water areas are near
the mouth of Hunting Creek and
Oxon Run Bay.
World Importance Increased.
"Washington's international i'm
portance has increased passenger
and air freight traffic to the point
where it-becomes mandatory to de-
velop the additional facilities need
ed to expand our air transporta-
ton"
The bulletin also pointed out that
National Airport showed a net mar
gin OF $780, 900 over operation costs
for the fiscal year ending in June
and that the number Of passengers
handled exceeds all of the 251 cities
studied with the exception Of New
York and Chicago.
National Airport also ranks third
in passenger traffic and gives en-
pleyment to about 3,400 persons. It
also has the highest yearly air
travel per thousand population of
any city in the U. 8.
Domestic flights from Washington
to ether cities total 81 a day. Ap-
proximately 125,000.o00 pieces Of
foreign and domestic air mail were