Aviation Opens up Important New Uses for Cement

With the rapidly growing need for increasing, enlarging and improving airports throughout the country, some new and ipteresting uses for cohcrete are being developed. Among the most important of these are the construction of permanent airports with fireproof concrete hangars, paved parking areas for planes ahd long, smooth, white runways for take-offs and landings.

Realizing the importance of this new outlet for cement, the research and public relations departments of the Portland Cemeht Associations have just completed a survey which contains recommendations for making airports safer, more efficient and more permanent through the use of concrete, as favored by leading aviation authorities.

W. B. Mayo, chief engineer of the Ford Motor Company, is sponsor for the statement th,at hard surface runways for airplanes to land on and take-off are a necessity. Planes for passenger lines carrying 30 persons or more, such as are planned for the Ford Air Line between Los Angeles and Chicago, and freight planes carrying seven or eight tons, must have rigid landing surfaces. Turf and cinders will not stand the wear.

The first concrete runwav in this countrv is now under construction at the Ford Aiiport near Detroit. It will range in width, from 75 to L25 feet, and will be 3,000 feet long, when completed.

Commander Richard E. Byrd suggests that the entire landing field be paved with concrete to eliminate dust and dirt and to permit take-offs and landings in any kind of weather.

Concrete 'aprons' and parking areas, around and in front of all airport buildings are approved practice. For the Model Airport proposed by the Aeronautics Division of the Department of Commerce, concrete aprons are specified. The apron area averages 1000 by 15O or 15,000 square feet. The Tempelhofer Field in Berlin and the new Croydon Airport in London are equipped with concrete aprons.

Hangar floors of concrete are considered essential for firesafety and durability, and concrete masonry or monolithic construction for the entire hangar are strongly recommended where permanent airports are established.

In order to maintain speedy connections betw,een airports and business districts, concrete highways are also an essential factor. Otherwise the benefits of fast air-travel are defeated.

Concrete directional markers, flooring for lights, fences and other airport accessories are already in general use.