Evening star., 1950-11-22
Group Pressing
For Early Start
On
Committee Seeking
To Promote Sofety
And Relieve Traffic

Early construction Of the new
$14 million airport authorized for
Washington was the No. / recon-
mendation today of the Airport
Use Committee. seeking to pro-
mote safety and relieve trafic
congestion in the Washington
area.
Efforts to cut down the conges-
ton have now reached a point, in
the committees opinion, where
further Improvement can be ex-
pected only from the new airport.
increased used of radar and re.
vision Of operating procedures.
AS far as can be learned, little
progress has been made toward
selecting an airport site from half
a dozen areas under considera.
ton In nearby Maryland and Vir-
ginia. The logical choice appears
to be a site in Fairfax County
within reach of the new Shir-
ley Highway. and near enough to
Washington to equalize the driving
time to the two airports.
81 Million Appropriated.
An appropriation Of 81 million
was made by Congress last Sep
tember 27 for expenses incident to
the acquisition of land for the
previously authorized $14 million
installation.
The Civil Aeronautics Admin.
istration, 1t was said, soon will
select an engineering firm to make
comparative surveys and a com.
mittee to recommend the site.
The CAA. a spokesman said,
must move with caution" because
Of the possibility Of land specu-
lation. and for other reasons. The
report urging that this work be
expedited was issued by Civil
Aeronautics Administrator D. w.
Nyrop. chairman of the Industry.
Government Committee.
The committee making the local
survey is composed of representa-
tives Of the CAA, Air Transport
Associa ton. Air Force, Air Reserve
Forces. Navy. CAB, the Airport
Advisory Committee and the Air
craft Owners and Pilots Associa-
tion.
Area Efficiency Impaired.
The report pointed out that the
efficiency Of operations in the
whole Washington area is i'm
paired by the fact that neither
Boiling Air Force Base nor Ana
costa Naval Air Station can use
its full facilities under certain
weather conditions because Of
their nearness to National Airport.
Further measures to cut down
military traffic in the area, 1t was
said. scarcely will warrant the
cost, although the Air Force is
expected to remove additional
proficiency" flying to Andrews
Air Force Base.
The tower at National now con-
trolls all traffic at the three air.
ports during periods of bad visi-
bility. The committee said this
traffic can be expedited by in
creased use of radar to enforce
separations in the area.
More Radar Advised.
The report urged the installa.
tion of more radar equipment.
along with the expanded use Of
equipment already installed.
In the interest Of safety, the
report said, the new control tower
at National should be completed
as soon as possible. A temporary
tower has been in use for the last
year while a new tower, with
added equipment rooms beneath
it. is under construction. The
new tower is almost ready to go
into operation. airport officials
said.
The committee asked the mill
tary to consider consolidating the
control towers at Anacostia and
Boiling. 1t recommended that
CAA controllers be permitted to
clear military planes for landings
at National when weather condi-
tions at the military bases across
the river are considered hazardous.