Evening star., 1953-04-08
Weeks Studies
10 Scrap
House Unit Hears
Witnesses Suggest
Air Base Use

S"N INV Wv
Complete abandonment Of the
Burke (Va.) airport project ap-
peared likely as Commerce Sec
retary Weeks continued studies
of other solutions to relieve traffic
at National Airport.
Mr.. Weeks eliminated from
next years budget SIG million
to continue work on the Burke
airport project. as expected, and
also told of the studies when he
appeared before the House APP
propriations Subcommittee last
month.
The testimony of the hearings
was made public today. At his
appearance Mr.. Weeks declared:
I'VE are still studying that
question very carefully and I
think are rather hopeful of COM
ing up with a solution which will
save a lot of money over what
has been originally contem-
plated" he told the subcommit-
tee.
Others Suggest Solutions.
Solutions mentioned before
the subcommittee by other wit
nesses, including F. B. Lee. dep
uty administrator of the Civil
AeronauticS Administration, and
Harold K. Howe. chairman Of
the Airport Relocation Commit
tee, which has been fighting the
efforts to build en- airport at
Burke. include:
/. Turning Andrews Air Force
Base over to civilian use.
2. Turning AnacoStia Naval
Air Station and Boiling Air Force
Base over to civilian use.
8. Using Friendship Interna-
tional Airport near Baltimore as
a second airfield for Washing
ton.
4. Constructing a new airport
on the Agricultural Research
Center at Beltsville, Md.
Mr.. Lee said, in reply to a
question by a member of the
subcommittee:
Andrews Field would be ex-
tremely helpful. AS far as Boil
ing and Anacostia are concerned.
they would not help greatly in
the overall capacity if they are
turned over to civilian use."
One Field Operation.
Mr.. Lee pointed out that the
CAA tower at National Airport
handled all air traffic at National,
Boiling and Anacostia now under
instrument conditions. In effect,
he said, they operated as one
field under instrument condi-
tions.
Andrews Base, he said, could
conduct simultaneous approaches
at the same time as instrument
approaches are being made at
National Airport.
Mr.. Howe told the subcommit-
tee that if the Government
abandoned efforts to build an
airport at Burke, it could get
out now with a small loss. He
added:
Abandoning this Burke air.
port project now will eliminate
expenditures of at least $50 mil
lion during the Eisenhower ad-
ministration."
Congress authorized construc-
ton of another airport for
Washington in 1850. The Burke
site in Fairfax County was Sc
lected by the CAA and has met
solid opposition from Fairfax
County and its residents. A total
Of 81 million was appropriated
to acquire land.
1000 Acres Acquired.
About 1,045 acres have been
acquired. or are in the process,
OF the estimated $500 acres
needed for the airport.
Mr.. Howe suggested use Of
Friendship Airport as the first
alternative. He said the new
Washington freeway
will run by the airport, giving
good access to Washington.
He listed Andrews Air Force
Base as second alternative.
pointing out it is about $500
acres and only 9 miles from the
District.
Mr.. Howe also suggested that
the Agricultural Research Gen.
ter at Beltsville, Md, might be
a good spot for another airport.
He said this site of 10000 acres
could be used, and the Govern
ment already owns the land.