Evening star., 1960-03-23

/ ~
growth of civil aviation, a
phenomenon lon gpast the ave-
some stage.
Recent public utterances in
dicate that a new gaggle of
adJectives will be needed to
descMbe the aviation picture
within the next few years
starting from "awesome."
Frank McDermott, executive
director of the Air Traffic Con-
troll Association, has said the
next 10 years will no doubt
see extension of the RESPONSE
bilities of air traffic control
into the fringes of space"
FAA Administrator EIwOod
X. Quesada recently told of
two major planning projects
TO keep us abreast and ahead
OF industry development" One
is called "Hummingbird." COW
ering analysis and planning
for all foreseeable vertical
takeof1 and short t-takeoff air.
craft.
These planes" he said. "are
showing increased promise of
hitting into the overall air
transportation system"
The FAA's second project at
hand covers supersonic trans
ports, which industry has said
could be in operation in a few
years If the airlines could abb
sorb the economic impact.
The general aviation feet
now totals about 10000 air.
craft and is expected to reach
$4,000 in five years.
United States transport
builders have delivered 267
turbine-powered aircraft. the
AerOspace Industries Associa-
tiOn points out, and will de-
liver 81 more in the next three
months. Turbine airliners are
now carrying 81 per cent of
all passengers, compared to 5
per cent in the first quarter of
last year.
FAA's control towers ham
died almost 27 million take
offs and landings in 1859. That
means that the 222 airports
served by FAA control towers
handled an average of six
landings or takeoffs every sew
en- seconds, day and night,
every day.
Not included are almost 5000
airports without air traffic con-
troll service.
One Of the best aviation ref
erence works for teen-agers
and up: undoubtedly the best
in its price field Zone dollar)
Is the new aircraft, Missiles
and Spacecraft" being issued
through Evan Evans National
Aviation Education Council.
The l55-page, picture-laden
book, is edited by James Hag-
gerty from the AerOspace In
dustries Association yearbook
and is dedicated by ALA Presi-
dent Orval r. Cook to the Ed
ucation Council.
1t is available through the
Councils headquarters at 1925
Connecticut avenue NV.
Recipient Of many an ac-
colade from high places, the
air traffic controllers recently
received one of the better ones.
Stuart G. Upton, president
Of the Air Transport Associa-
tion, said mo other function of
the Federal Government is
more involved with the daily
safety of civil and military
flight operations than the air
trafhc control function. The
scheduled airlines are keenly
aware of the controllers high
sense of professionalism and
personal integrity in discharg-
ing their responsibilities"
The ATA will co-sponor the
two top air traffic control
awards Of the year. giving
transportation to the 1860 Con-
troll Associations 1860 San
Francisco convention to the
winners.
The $400-$450 it now costs
to achieve a private pilots Ii
cense won't be increased much,
If any, by new FAA rules re-
quiring some instrument ex-
perience before the license is
issued.
Before the rules became eff
fective last week, ability to exc
cute a weather-evading, 180-
degree turn was enough. Now,
the FAA wants the fledging to
know enough instrument flying
to handle the aircraft in case
he gets caught in bad weather
"a requirement appropriately
called a "life-saving feature"
But the instrument couse will
be integrated into the usual
curriculum and will not require
extra time.
For those who had passed
their written tests before March