ENGLAND HAS GREAT AVIATION SCHEME

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6863, 19 March 1929, Page 8

ENGLAND HAS GREAT AVIATION SCHEME

Network of Air Parks SUBSIDY FROM THE GOVERNMENT LONDON, Feb. 5. 1 Ail important step forward in British aviation is revealed in a White Paper issued by the Air Ministry, which announces Government assistance during ten years to a new organisation, National Flying Services, Limited. This organisation is to establish iu London and the provinces civil flying clubs and facilities for training and practice in flying. It is stipulated that 20 new aerodromes and 80 new landing grounds must be provided within three years. The Government assistance is to take the form of a grant payable in rc-speet of each club member who qualifies for the issue or renewal of a pilot’s licence—either as a private pilot, or as a pilot for passenger or goods aircraft —on club aircraft, Brit-ish-made and British registered. Present service in the Eoyal Air Force. Air Force Ecserve, or Auxiliary Air .Force, or past service in those forces as a pilot, unless such servieo terminated before August 31, 1921, will be a bar to the grant. It will be' at a reduced rate after the first three years. Regulation of Grants. The rate for the first three years will be £lO for each club member so qualifying, subject to a maximum of £15,000 a year, with carry-over between years if necessary. The corresponding rate for the next seven years will bo £5, the aggregate of the grants payable for any year being limited to the smaller of'the following alternative maxima:— £7500 without carry-over, or such sum as may be required in any year to bring the certified profits of the company for that year up to 5 per cent.”of the paidup capital. After ten years no grants will be payable. A number of the leaders of British aviation are associated with National Flying Services, Limited. Captain the Hon. F. E. Guest, who was Air Minister from 1921 to 1922, will be the chairman, and he will act without remuneration.

Large Fleet of Planes. Included in the board of directors arc Colonel the Master of Sempill, A.F.C., president of the Eoyal Aeronautical Society, Sir Alan Cobham and Mr. J. G. Peel, chairman of the Manchester and County Bank, and vicechairman of tho Fine Cotton Spinners’, Association. The managing director of the new undertaking is Colonel I. A. E. Edwards, who was for six years Chief Technical Advisor on Civil Aviation at the Air Ministry.

“We shall put in service at tho outset a fleet of 100 aeroplanes for flying tuition, private hire, and every kind of commercial work,” said Colonel Edwards, “and flftv flying instructors will be employed for teaching people to fly. Eeserves will be maintained, and these numbers will be increased as the demand requires. A valuable speeding up of commercial and private travel will be made possible by the provision of a cheap, reliable, and widespread air taxi service at low rates everywhere. “A network of 23 national air parks will be established, each equipped with aircraft, hangars, workshops, a comfortable clubhouse and servieo facilities for owner-pilots, together with an adequate staff of pilots, engineers, and clubhouse personnel. Hundred Landing Grounds. “In addition, wo shall organise at least 100 landing grounds, equipped with service facilities and lock-up aircraft garages as required. The sites of the company’s stations aro being carefully studied in order to link up the main air parks by a chain of landing grounds and to spread the benefits of flying over the entire country. “Our aim is so to plajc the stations that in conjunction with existing aerodromes there will be no house in England further than 15 miles from an aerodrome, and no flier will ever be more than a few minutes’ flight from a landing place equipped at least with a telephone and petrol supplies. “The 230-acrc Hanworth Park estate at Feltham, 11 miles from Hyde Park Corner, is being purchased for the purpose of converting it into a central air park for Loudon. At the beginning 12 light aeroplanes will be stationed at this centre.”