CIVIL AVIATION

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 247, 13 July 1920, Page 5

CIVIL AVIATION

RAPID GROWTH IN A YEAR MACHINES SANCTIONED IN GERMANY ByTeleßranh-Prosß ABsociation-Copyriirit London, July 10. Lord Londonderry, in opening tho International Aero Exhibition, referred to recent alarmist and exaggerated statements concerning the air developments in'other.nations, especially in Germany. He said that Germany at present had forty-nine undertakings licensed to carry on air traffic. These were nineteen transport companies, of which only two were actually working; and thirty factories, four of which were engaged tn research work, and. two in engine designing. The Allies' Control Commission had sanctioned a few commercial machines of no military vntuo for the purpose of resumption of air traffic in Germany on a small scale. General Sykes, Controller-General of Civil Aviation, alluded to the presence of many Dominion representatives as proving the universal interest aroused by aviation. He expressed satisfaction with the exhibits, which included tho most modern seaplanes, flying boats, aud "amphibians." He said: "It is essential that we, in a sea-girt Empire, should develop these types of aircraft." Since April 26, 1919, when international hying was first permitted, air services had becu established between London and Paris, and London and Amsterdam; while a Londcn-to-Brussels service, would shortly be inaugurated. He mentioned the remarkable fact that throughout tho winter months there wero only ten days when tho London-Pnris sorvice was interrupted. General Sykes gave the following striking figures:—Number of flights carried out in the first yeaT of civil aviation, 38,953; approximate mileage flown, 734.200 mifes; number of passengers car--ried, 70,000, with only one fatality: weight of goods transported, 1J6.-I9S pounds; value of imports and exports transported by air, J!2OO,000.-Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. = I