Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-05-14
Planes Exceed
Air Facilities,
President Told
BY CHARLES YARBROUGH

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The Nation has already passed.
the point where its aviation ia
cilities can safely and efficiently
handle all the planes wanting to
ny. President Eisenhower was
told today.
Off1cial admission of this de-
ficiency. generally acknowledged
in the industry, came from Ed
ward p. Curtis. presidential as
sistant for Aviation Facilities
Planning.
Mr.. Curtis blunt appraisal of
the Nations tagging air facilities
amplif1ed an earlier recommen-
dalton that a new Federal avia-
ton agency be formed to keep
pace with the growth.
Mr.. Curtis discussed his report
at a meeting Of the President
and Republican Congressional
leaders this morning. White
House Press Secretary James C.
Hagerty said Mr.. Curtis told
them he was not suggesting that
legislation be passed at this ses-
sion Of Congress creating the
agency. He said he was propos-
ing 1t for study to enable the
next session to act on it.
Knowland Not Yet Committed
Senate Republican Leader
Knowland said he was not yet
prepared to take a stand On
the Curtis recommendations. al
though he considered the study
very timely" because the Gov
eminent should take an advance
lock at aviation problems the
Nation will lace in the next 10
to IS years.
The report projected the
aviation picture to 1875, when
I'VE expect the United States air
craft population to increase to
l25.000." It has grown from
10000 in 1886 to 10000 today.
AS an example of that phenom-
email growth. the report cited
"a busy day in 1885, when there
were go aircraft simultaneously
airborne in the en- route corridor
between New York and Washing
ton.
BY 1875. there will be about
$50 aircraft simultaneously air
borne within this same corridor.
1T Is physically impossible for
today's aviation facilities to con-
troll the 1856 volume OF aircraft
in such high-density areas-even
N clear weather."
Tax Plan Offered
The report contained recon-
mendations on the wide picture
national aviation policy, devel-
opment and selection of air traf-
nc and navigation systems, allo-
cation Of air space. ALLEGATION of
radio frequencies, accident in
vestigation. civil air regulations
and air weather service.
Among the proposals was one
suggesting the Government
should recognize the existing
two-cent tax on aviation gaso-
line and other excise taxes as an
Always user-charge.
Mr.. Curtis noted it is impos-
sible to place a definite price tag
on the long-range moderniza-
ton program. but, he said ut is
clear that its cost will substan-
TALLY exceed the recent level Of
expenditures in this field"
The Civil Aeronautics Admin
istration has been given SIS mil
lion by Congress to launch its
Always modernization program
and CAA ofilcials estimate the
cost In the next i've or six years
could reach $50 million.
In proposing the new Federal
Aviation Agency. Mr.. Curtis
plan would consolidate all the
essential management functions
necessary to support the COM
mon needs Of military and civil
aviation.
Interim Plan EnvisiOned
But first. under an interim
plan. would come an Always
Modernization Board, now under
consideration by Congress. The
board would consist Of a chair
man appointed by the President,
a Defense Department and Com
merce Department member. The
appointments would be for three
years.
The interim proposal also sug-
Rests continuation Of 4 special