Air transportation

Title

Air transportation

Creator

Brussolo, V. A.

Language

English

Source

The American Chamber of Commerce Journal Volume XXIV (Issue No.5) May 1948

Year

1948

Rights

In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted

Fulltext

166 AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL May, 1948 Inter-Island Shipping By G. F. vander Hoogt Everett Steamship Corporation PHILIPPINE shipping interests have recently shown much concern due to the expiration on February 29, 1948, of the authority under which the U. S. Maritime Commission was allowed to sell war-built vessels to foreign nations or their citizens. The United States Congress did, however, authorize the chartering of such vessels to foreign nationals for a further limited period. For this reason a meeting was recently called by the Philippine Shipping Commission to which all local shipping firms were invited to send a representative. At this meet ing a resolution was adopted to request the Philippine Government to make representations to the United States Government with a view to obtaining relief from these re strictions in so far as they concern Philippine citizens. Most local shipping companies sustained heavy losses during the war, claims for which have in many cases not yet been settled. It is indicated that some of these firms will desire to purchase war-built vessels from the U. S. Maritime Commission when their claims are finally paid. Such vessels are desired for inter-island service, many of the vessels now used in this service being presently char tered from the U. S. Maritime Commission. Prior to the expiration of the authority mentioned, the Everett Steamship Corporation was successful in pur chasing from the U. S. Maritime Commission four ClMAV-1 type coastal freighters. It is believed these are the only war-built vessels purchased from the U. S. Maritime Commission by a Philippine company to-date. Many smaller vessels of the FS type, etc., have been received by. the Philippine Government as surplus from the United States Government, and have been disposed of to local shipping companies by the Philippine Shipping Commis sion. Many such vessels are now being operated in the inter-island service. It is to be hoped that the Philippine Government will see fit to approach the United States Government in the interests of Philippine shipowners, and that such efforts will be successful toward extending the time within which Philippine companies and citizens may purchase further war-built vessels from the United States. Air Transportation By V. A. Brussolo Vice-President, Philippine Air Lines IMPORTANT steps have been taken by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) at its second meeting held in Sydney, Australia, toward the establishment of uniform operations by all affiliated airlines around the world, Among several1 points taken up and decided during the convention, was the agreement by all airlines to stan dardize rates, subject of course, to approval by the various governments concerned. If the United States and Philip pine governments approve these rates agreed upon at the conference, fares in the Pacific area will be automatically reduced. Another change effected by IATA in existing airline arrangements, is the present policy on plane stop-overs. A passenger under the new agreement will be allowed an COMPLETE SAWMILLS With DIESEL power units ALSO Band Re-Saws • Edgers • Swing Cut-Off Saws • Saw-Sharpeners Wood Working Machinery Jointers • Planers • Bandsaws • Variety Saw Tables • Matcher & Moulders • Shapers • Sanders AVAILABLE IN STOCK EXCLUSIVE DISTRIBUTORS THE EARNSHAWS DOCKS & HONOLULU IRON WORKS Corner Tacoma & 2nd Street Branch Office at PORT AREA, MANILA Telephone 2-68-48 BACOLOD, NEGROS OCCIDENTAL May, 1948 AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL 167 unlimited period, for the life of his ticket, at any point along his route, provided that this is specified when the ticket is bought. Meanwhile, a reciprocal air parcel-post service between countries in the Pacific and the United States is going into effect soon. It will provide shippers with airmail service at savings ranging from 33 to 50%, it was announced by the U.S. Post Office Department. Following' the lead established in the Atlantic areas, where air parcel-post was inaugurated recently to 21 foreign countries in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, a similar service planned for the Pacific area will be provided by 42,000 post offices in the United States. Philippine Air Lines, Inc. (PAL) has filed its request to undertake parcel post service between Manila and San Francisco. The proposed agreement over the Pacific will materially increase the volume of goods transported by air and will stimulate international trade by providing manufacturers with an economical and rapid means of transporting their products. An air treaty with Siam, similar to the treaties the Philippines has with the United States and Britain, is the first item to be settled in the diplomatic negotiations between the Philippines and Siam, following recognition of the new government of Siam, according to Malacanan. For the conclusion of this treaty, a group of Filipiho foreign affairs negotiators is being formed, similar to that which last year concluded the treaties with the United States and Great Britain. The projected treaty with Siam, it is said, envisages the opening of air traffic with Siam for all Philippine-registered airlines. Similar air-traffic arrangements with Japan, Burma, India, and Pakistan are pending conclusion. A Filipino team scheduled to go to "these countries is waiting for the "go signal” from Vice-President Elpidio Quirino, who is concurrently Secretary of Foreign Affairs. * Establishment of an air route between the Philippines and Japan, possibly via Hongkong and Shanghai, is reportedly sought by the Philippine Air Lines. Since the Philippine Government is a stockholder of the Philippine Air Lines, Iqc., it is believed the proposal with respect to a Manila-Tokyo line will be taken up by the Government with SCAP. A conference between gov ernment officials and PAL representatives has been consider ing the plans, which still are in their preliminary stage. At present only one commercial airline serves the route between the Philippines and Japan, with call at Shanghai, namely the Northwest Airlines. Special detour is made to Okinawa from time to time by this commercial airline to accommodate U. S. Army personnel. The U. S. Army itself maintains flights on regular routes over Japan and the Philippine-Ryukyus zone. The need for more commercial air facilities between the Philippines and Japan is seen in the increasing passenger traffic and greater volume of air-express cargo carried. It has been noted that commercial planes between Shanghai and Tokyo are always heavily booked. As trade conditions return to normal and more and more people are becoming airminded, the need for greater airline facilities from the Philippines to the north, as far as Japan, is beginning to be felt, and it is believed that an additional airline in that direction can be established, just as there is# more than one’ airline be tween Hongkong and Manila and between Manila and the United States via the Central Pacific route. to make up for its lack of speed... ground-gripping hoofs... a thick, sparsely-haired hide that repels- sun and rain with equal ease... which all adds up to an ideal draft animal that "can take it" on rocky ground or mud. Nature gave the carabao strength and stamina, more than enough ground- gripping, The General “Silent Grip” Passenger Tire, too, “can take it.” War-tested for rough usage, it’s built to give you more miles of smooth, safe riding even on rough roads. Tough, economical, it is your biggest tire buy. Ensure your riding pleasure now—use General! At your dealer’s. American Factors (phioInc. Mary Bachrach Bldg. 25th St., Potrt Area TeL 2-65-72 •Now President of the Philippines. 168________________________AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL________________ May, 1948 The Northwest Airlines, which operates1 over the Nor thern Pacific from Manila to Shanghai, Tokyo, Anchorage (Alaska), Seattle, St. Paul, and up to Washington, D.C., is operating a feeder-line between Tokyo and Seoul, Korea. It plans to open a direct route between Shanghai and Seoul. At present, passengers from the Philippines or China going to Korea have to pass Tokyo and take the NWA plane from there to Seoul. At the time of this writing, the Office of the President has authorized Colonel Jesus Villamor to extend an invitation to the International Civil Aeronautics Organiza tion (ICAO) to hold its next conference in the Philippines. It will be recalled that the last ICAO meeting was held in Montreal, Canada, headquarters of the ICAO. The site selected is Baguio, and the convention opening date is July 15, 1948. Should the ICAO accept the invitation of the Philippine Government, the aviation role of the Philippines will be definitely established in international aeronautical activities, a confirmation, as it were, that the Philippines has become the aviation-hub of this part of the civilized globe. * ★Column-editor's note later: “It seems that India got ahead of us and that ICAO has accepted an invitation to hold the conference at New Delhi.’’ Land Transportation (Bus Lines) By L. G. James Vice-President and Manager, A. L. Ammen Trans portation Co., Inc. OF special interest to the transportation industry during the month was the end of the strike which haq caused a complete cessation of operations by the Batangas Transportation Company for a period of three months. The striking employees returned to their work at the end of April after the refusal of the management to grant any of the demands which resulted in the walkout. Various basic questions involved are now before the Court of Industrial Relations for decision. This has been the longest and cost liest of the various strikes affecting land-transportation operations in the Philippines. Other companies will be vitally interested in the final decision of the Court of Industrial Relations on a number of the points at issue, such as wartime back pay for employees in service as of December, 1941, and the basic demands for increases in vacation-leave and sickleave with pay. Public utilities operate under government supervision and their rates are fixed by the Public Service Commission. Increased cost of operation cannot be passed on to the pa trons but must be absorbed by the operator. Factors such as increased wages and other extra cash benefits accruing to employees were, in the cases of many operators, not taken into consideration at the time when presently prevailing rates were established. The operator of a large fleet of busses prefers a mass volume of business at a narrow margin of profit per bus kilometer, provided he can look forward to a more or less fixed cost of operation. The recent labor trends have com pletely disrupted ideas on operational costs, based upon years of experience and practice. Many companies are finding the margin between income per bus-kilometer and expense per bus-kilometer so narrow that profits are negligible. The majority of operators recognizes the advisability of providing for employee benefits to the extent that they do not pass beyond the limits of sound judgment, but they Add General Fireproofing's unique ball-bearing roller cradle suspension rolls the heaviest-laden drawer at the touch of a finger. 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pages

166-168

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