BRITAIN’S MANY AIRPORTS

Taranaki Daily News, 3 August 1932, Page 7

BRITAIN’S MANY AIRPORTS

GROWTH OF PRIVATE AVIATION. SEAPLANE ACCOMMODATION (From a Correspondent.) London, June 21. A supplement to the Air Pilot, just issued by order of the Air Council, lists 124 aerodromes, lauding grounds and seaplane stations in Great Britain. The growth of private aviation is implicit in the fact that there are now only two less private civil air stations than those licensed for public use. Twelve of these air stations possess Customs facilities. Experts have estimated that the optimum number of aerodromes for this country is about 300, which would mean the existence of a proper landing grounds for aircraft at intervals of not more than 20 miles. Seaplanes are easier to accommodate. Any sheltered bay or harbour or reasonable size is au “aerodrome” for a seaplane, and iu calm .weather even a small marine aircraft can descend on the sea and taxi on the water to anchorage in a creek or other inlet. Tho long coast-line of Britain, with its hundreds of suitable anchorages of the kiud required, makes it rather surprising that more owner-pilots have not adopted the light seaplane in preference to its laud-operated equivalent. And there is no doubt that flying in a seaplane over water—flying over au endless aerodrome—can be much more pleasant than many flights over land, where the aeroplane must for safety reasons fly fairly high.