Evening star., 1961-11-09
Policy Calls
For Use of
Privute Lines
BY ROBERT GRUENBERG
Star staff Writer

asst night near Richmond -
was used because of a years
.ong established policy to use
private carriers, instead of
planes.
Defense Department spokes-
men said this policy is in effect
despite the maintenance and
operation of the worldwide
Air Transport Service.
The policy of using CONNER
cial airlineS is dictated by a
Defense Department directive,
said spokesmen. 1t is based
they said of the opposition of
commercial airlines to carry
ing Of personnel in the mill
tary's own planes.
Confirmed by Official
A top official of the Air
Association of Amer
lea, with headquarters in
Washington, confirmed this
I'VE have always opposed
the Defense Departments op-
as a commercial air
line" said Frederick Davis,
vice president of planning and
administration.
I'VE feel it's in the national
interest to support a national
airlines system, he added. Alta
represents 40 scheduled airlines.
Imperial Airlines, a non
scheduled carrier, was con-
tracted for by the Army re-
cruiting office in New York
City on an individual ticket"
basis, said an Army spokesman.
The airline sells the tickets
to the Army for use on a plane
may also carry civilian
passengers, he said.
Entire planes are chartered
and flights set up by the Mill
tary Traffic Management
Agency, which handles ar
for domestic and
overseas flights which cannot
be handled by MATS, they said.
1000 Flights in 80
In 1860 there were 1000 such
flights made for a total cost of
50 million. This includes the
individual ticket arrangement.
The fatal Richmond plane crash
was not an MTMA-sponsored
flight, MTMA officials said.
The fatal flight was arranged
by the New York recruiting
office, the Army said.
The MATS flights are limited
to carrying personnel overseas,
injured personnel in the United
States, special missions involv-
ing security or hauling mate
rials which commercial air.
liners cannot handle such as
missiles, or flying important
personagsS, they said.
The latter would include the
President, cabinet members,
ambassadors and Congressman,
they said.
The Imperial Airlines crash
last night was the second fatal
accident involving the line in
nine years of operation, accord
ing to the Associated Press.
Imperial was known as Re-
gina Airlines in 1853 when one
of its planes crashed killing 81
persons. \
regina was changed over to
Imperial Airlines," said Skip
Averman, son of the owner,
E. j. Averman, ir., a Miami
attorney. Il don't know exactly
why they changed the name"
Mr.. Averman, reported to be
in the Washington area, also
was president of Regina,
charter troop carrier. He has
owned the line since 1852.
Crashed in California
A DC-3 owned by Regina
crashed in September, 1858,
near Centralia, Calf, killing
two crew members and 10 SOL
diers en- route to McChord Air
Base.
In January. 1854, a Regina
plane carrying 80 persons was
forced down at Aberdeen,
S. Oak, but no one was seri-
ouSly injured.
In February, 1855 a Regina
C-46 landed at Charleston,
S. c., and the landing gear COL
lapsed but none of the 81 per-
sons aboard was injured.
In November, 1859. the Fed
eral Aviation Agency fined Re-
gina $1,000 for operating a
CAS- with 30 Marines as pas
Sengers which had not been
approved as air-worthy.
Barred as Pilots
In March, 1861, the FAA
lifted the licenses of three
pilots for flying under
conditions that endangered the
ives of military personnel
aboard. They were allowed to
apply for co-pilot licenses. The
,hree were Vincent ]. Faiz.
Fred Scott and Robert j. Jones,
LII of Miami.
Imperial now has only two
planes left, both Consultations,
'oung Averman said. The line
las 20 to 80 employees.
The crash last night was
he second worst military air
iisaster-involving a single
'lane-in United States terri
orial history.
On December 20, 1852, 81
nen lost their lives when an
Iir Force CHA crashed during
ake-off from Larson Air Force
Base, Washington State.