The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1953-04-30

TODAY'S
BUSINESS
MIRROR
BY SAM DAWSON

NEW IOfSA Ai-Ine bf1tlSn are
all steamed up because they fear
the United States is planning a
fast one in the race of British
and American plane makers to
capture the potentially rich Amer
lean market for jet airliners.
Immediately at stake is n mil.
lion dollars which TIE British hope
to get from Pan American World
Always for 10 jets.
A protest is being aired in the
House of Commons today over the
u. S. Civil Aeronautics Admins
tration's holding up Of air-worthi-
ness certificates for British-made
jet airlinerS. The British contend
that the idea is TO let American
plane makers catch up in the race.
in which the British are now far
ahead.
CAA officials, however, say
many problems Of safety, noise.
and airport construction must vet
be solved before jet planes can
be certified for civil use.
American plane makers say
they'll have jet transports in the
air next year and ready for sale
by 1856 or 1857.
Pan Am. meantime, has ordered
three ocean-crossIng Comet ms
from the British de Haviland Com.
pany for delivery IN 1856, with an
option TO buy seven more. The
British fear Pan Am may cancel
If eertification is held up. but Pan
Am officials say they'll be in no
hurry TO do so.
Beings president, William NJ.
Allen, says his firm win have 4
prototype jet transport flying In
1854. Its three. way design Is for
use as military cargo transport,
or as a tanker for refneling other
jets in mid-air. or TO be fitted out
as commercial airliner.
Douglas president, Donald W.
Douglas. says eve are going
ahead with production Of a let air
liner" Airline sources expect the
Douglas jet TO be ready about 1857.
Loekheed aircraft also has let
plans well along.
So far Pan Am is the only Amer.
lean air carrier 10 order Jets
getting ready for the competition
on the day the British Overseas
Always starts using jets across
the Atlantic Other q. S. air car
riers say they are waiting Gil the
jets prove themselves.
Objections to jets center around
their cost Of operation. They use
cheaper fuel but lots more Of il.
Americans say the cost per mile
Is Is per cent higher, that lets
need more frequent oyerhauling.
need longer runwayx than most
Y. S. airports have, cannot be
kept cruising above : port closed
by weather, and make so much
noise that the public win protest.
+. E. NJ 81. Barbe, deputy man.
aging director Of De Haviland, I'D.
mis ''If YOU take out the noise.
you take out the thrust. But he
contends the JET Is economically
competitive because Of Its speed.
its quick turn-around. and the fact
that while Il must be oyerhauled
after fewer hours the jei has coz.
cred more miles between over.
hanls.
St. Barrie says bis company can
turn out six Comets 4 month. He
stresses that "The British are pIl-
ing up actual Tying know.h0w %
commercial routes while Amer
lean JET airiiners have yet TO ~.
lie thinks relanking IN air may
solve some Of the objeefions-sueh
As the Jets more frequent stopa
for fuel. He also pooh phoos Amer.
lean claims that because they are
making Jet bombers nov. they can
easily make alriinefa
Easy on paper 81. Barhs
says. but bombers are 3 different
JOB from liners
lie also says The British are
working oas getting down TIE fuel
costs perhaps somssbing cheaper
than the keFosene They now use.
Americas piabe TuakerH. hows
ever lkink they Gsn catch W vim
So avSfsxk So