PERIL TO AIRMEN.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 9, 11 January 1934, Page 7

PERIL TO AIRMEN.

LESSON OF BELGIAN CRASH. LONDON, January 4. In view of the plans greatly to increase Britain's internal airlines in 1934, tho recent disaster to the Imperial Airwavs liner Apollo in Belgium emphasises the recent complaints of pilots of dangers of flying in fog, owing to the many wireless masts erected by the G.P.O. and the 8.8.C. Some regard the radio beacon tower at Croydon aerodrome, which is 100 feet high, as a source of danger in fog, as it is almost directly in the line of the take-off. It is stipulated that in windless weather it shall be lighted with red lamps, which do not pierce fog. A leading Imperial Airways' pilot said: "I suppose the Air Ministry will move that tower after somebody hits it." Tho highest masts in Britain arc the 020-footers at the Rugby wireless station. Pilots urge that automatic signals, regularly sending out directions to -aircraft, shall be attached to radio beacons. There is the additional problem of illuminating the electricity pylons all over England. When the Duchess of Bedford's pilot fatally crashed in the darkness recently, tho opinion was formed that it was due to his turning suddenly to avoid the pylons. Tho "Daily Herald" announces that the Air Ministry's Departmental committee on safety in the air is preparing a report which is expected to go a long way to prevent disasters in Britain similar to that which befell the Apollo. Both radio signals and infra-red lamps arc being considered as warnings to pilots of obstructions.