Supersonic tears CONCORDE TESTS SOON

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 38183, 24 March 1973, Page 15

Supersonic tears CONCORDE TESTS SOON

PARIS. March 23. The first two Concorde prototypes will i carry out tests at high altitudes over the Atlantic. Australia, and the Antarctic soon, to check on the possible effects on the atmosphere of supersonic airliners.

The French-built 001 model [will fly over the Bay of Biscay and the Irish Sea and the British-built 002, in the I Australian area in May and ■June. The findings in the aircraft will be correlated with ■ground measurements. Concern has been ex-

1 pressed by some scientists - about possible damage to the i stratosphere by large num- “ bers of supersonic flights. Land a two-day meeting of (French and British experts - opened in Paris yesterday to t examine the matter. | The British Overseas Air- . I ways Corporation maintained ii, London yesterday that the

I future of the Concorde on ithe London • Johannesburg (route rested on the airlines (being granted new landing irights in West Africa. I “Unless we are given traffic rights at Lagos, or at other West African points, it I would be tantamount to say ling that there will be no IConcorde operation to South i Africa,” the corporation’s (secretary, Mr Robert Forrest (told the licensing panel of the Civil Aviation Authority, which has been hearing arguments between 8.0.A.C.. and the independent airline. British Caledonian, over which should have certain operational rights in West i Africa. British Caledonian suggested yesterday that 8.0.A.C. was “deliberately i trying to duplicate our routes.” Mr Forrest said that it w’ould be vital for 8.0.A.C. to have a route change w'hen the Concorde went into service. The only practical wav to Johannesburg was via (West Africa, because the traditional route, down the Nile Valley, meant flying over populated areas. The airline intended to fly the Concorde from London to Lagos non-stop, with another single stage on to Johannesburg.