AVIATION

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 36, 14 February 1929, Page 4

AVIATION

AERODROME SITES. OFFICIAL RATINGS. Early in December, Mr P. Thomson, a member of the .Stratford Chamber of Commerce, met Major Wilks, wlia bad been sent up to confer with the New Plymouth Aero Club in reference to the landing ground at Bell Block, and discussed w|fth him 1 the matter of a landing ground for Stratford. Major Wilks handed to Mr Thomson a copy of the instructions issued to Air ’Branch officers regard, irig reports on aerodromes and these Mr Thomson has forwarded to tliof Chamber of Commerce-. Some eitra’cts therefrom are given below. BASIC REQUIREMENTS. Suitability of Handing areaw.—-AJ firm find \iend with suitable approaches, well drained and> without obstructions or depressions which would present hazards in taking off or "landing. Roads must not cross any part of the landing, area. The site must not h© subject to flood.. Freedom from obstacle^. —Therq should be no objects in the vicinity of the landing area which require to be marked as dangerous. Two such, objects should normally disqualify a* ground). Communication. —An , aerodrome should; be situated on a good road! leading to the nearest town or city. RATING. Rating I.—To receive rating la* ground must’ have a landing area of 800 yards in all directions, with dear approaches. By clear approaches is meant absence of buildings, towers and other obstacles which would prevent a seven to one glide or take off to or from the edge of the effective landing area, and also the absence of tall chimneys, towejrs, high power transmission lines, which (, constituitof hazards even though beyond th e actual area affected hy the seven to oneratio. A landing ground situated at an altitude of 2000 feet above sea level should have its area increased! by a further 80 yards.

Rating 2..—A rating 2 groUnMuSfJ have a landing area of 650 yardte in permit of at least four-way landings with clear approaches the landing areas, to be at least 150 yardwide all directions, with clear approaches, or it must bp of such a shape «W sto and not less than 800 yards long; a.nd not to cross or converge at angles of loss than 60 degrees..

Ratling 3. —To receive this rating most have a landing area of 500 yards in alt directions, witli clean aJpproaidHes, '<tr ihave t!voi permitting of fonf.way landings, the landing areas to he not less than 100 yards dong. x Rating 4.—The ground must have a landing area of 440 yards in all .directions, or it must have two runways remitting of four-way landing; the landing areas to be not less than GOO \ | ya T ds long..

Ratine s.—CrtVYimds whioh have not, +he nof«<Jsary dimension* +o qualify fro* n “t” ra+ine hut, which are conc;if)or<xl s o fe for the narticolor use to which it is nronnsfVi that thev should be nut. shonlfi, bo ° s “5”. Rnfino 0. —Gwiiklr which are adincleed as unsafe shall be rated as “0”.