Difference Over Type of British Air Liners for North Atlantic

Grey River Argus, 21 January 1948, Page 8

Difference Over Type of British Air Liners for North Atlantic

LONDON, Jan. 19

The Tudor I airliners which the Government has announced, the 8.0.A.C, must operate, could not be commercially used on the Empire air routes to Australia, New Zealand, India and South Africa for almost a year, says the Evening Standard’s air correspondent. The 8.0.A.C., . after the aircraft are eventually delivered, must train crews to fly them and carry out extensive test flying along the routes. The 8.0.A.C. previously rejected the Tudor I. The Government’s committee has recommended: 1. That the London-Montreal service should be begun with the Tudor I as soon as possible in the national interests.

2. That the use of the Tudor I planes not required for the Atlantic service should be considered for expres services on Empire routes. The committee does not think the 8.0.A.C. condemnation of the Tudor I justified. The 8.0.A.C. attitude became unfavourable on grounds other than technical and mainly economic, as envisaging a loss of £lOO,OOO annually on seven flights weekly. The committee considers that a competent authority should investigate this figure as not a reliable estimate. It says that use of the Tudor I to enable British constructors to gain knowledge of the requirements of the North Atlantic route* may be expensive, but the cost of not having it might be much greater. There was no evidence to support the suggestion that a 8.0.A.C. desire to obtain American aircraft was responsible for its lack of enthusiasm for the Tudor.

The committee, comment on a lack of co-operation between the 8.0.A.C. and A. V. Roe and Company and say it was unfortunate That the Ministry of Supply and the Ministry of Civil Aviation felt unable to intervene. If the 8.0.A.C. and A.V. Roe had worked together, the Tudor I might have been ’in the legubi’ North Atlantic service last summer. A 8.0.A.C. spokesman , said the 8.0.A.C. was not prepared to lose £1,000,000 a year by putting the Tudor I on the North American route. It would probably introduce it on its South Airman, Indian ar/ 1 Australian services. The 8.0.A.C., if the plant did not meet the required specification, would press for ,th> conversion of all Tudors :rrto the Tudor IV type. Reuter’s air correspondent says that conversion would cost £lO,OOO for each plane and would take two months. The 8.0.A.C. and A. V. Roe Ltd., jointly stated- "We entirely concur that the manufacturer and operator should work together with enthusiasm and harmony. We will cooperate fully so that Tudor aircraft mav operate on the 8.0.A.C. routes at the earliest possible moment. We are already conferring on the best means of giving to the Government’s wishes.”