SEA OF GALILEE

Evening Star, Issue 22526, 19 December 1936, Page 1

SEA OF GALILEE

SACRED WATERS BANNED TO AIR LINERS The giant Imperial Airways flying boats which will link London and Australia in an express nine-day service next year have been banned from the sacred waters of the Sea of Galilee. Following suggestions of “desecration,” Imperial Airways have been informed that they cannot have permission to establish a flying boat base on the south of the inland sea. It is stated that religious organisations in various parts of the world raised objections to the use of the waters for this purpose. This despite the fact that there is a night club on the shores Imperial Airways refused to comment on the situation, which threatens to hinder the speed-up of Empire airways. VITAL LINK, SAY EXPERTS. Months ago, charged by the Government with the task of operating a fourday service to India, nine days to Australia, Imperial Airways sent experts to Palestine. They decided that a refuelling base on the south of Galilee would he a vital link in the chain of waterdromes needed to feed the fleet of flying boats on the route. The Palestine Government was informed of this decision, and replied by suggesting that the Dead Sea, 60 miles further south, would make a suitable base. Negotiations followed, ending in refusal to grant permission for a base on Galilee. Imperial Airways were offered alternative facilities for landing and refuel ling their boats on. the Dead Sea.. ■

It is felt that a Dead Sea base would seriously handicap the success of the services. . , The Dead Sea waters lie 1,300 ft be* low sea level. Mountain peaks, in winter often blanketed by cloud, rise to 3,000 ft. The air is often turbulent. The Palestine Government has bee* informed that pilots might find it diffi- , cult to get into the valley when layer* t of cloud cover ,the surrounding heights. Imperial Airways flying boats used th*Sea of Galilee as a base between November, 1931, and January, 1933. Passengers were then transferred to airplanes in an adjoining airfield. The Se* of Galilee was then found quite suitabl* for flying boats. SECOND BASE IS EARMARKED. Lake Habbaniya, 465 miles from Gaiilee, on the way to Bagdad, has already been earmarked as the second refuelling base after Alexandria. The services are scheduled to start next summer. At first it will take nine days to reach Australia. Experts believe that this time will later be cut down to seven days.