Coll 5/84(4) ‘Middle East Summaries from Ministry of Civil Aviation’ [‎7v] (13/107)

have any future requirement there, the India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. are arranging through
the Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. ta obt in further details of the two proposals in
order that further consideration may be given to the future of Kuwait
airfield, against the background of the Kuwait Civil ^ir agreement v/hich
expires in 1948*
147* Following official approval of the formation of Cyprus Airvvays,j the
British European dirway^Cor#porationrepresentative, is at present in Cyprus
with the object of concluding the arrangements. It is hoped that the
Company will shortly be in operation at Nicosia,
The scheme for, the establishment of a Cyprus Training Unit originally
in Lord Da.vidson’s report ha.s been postponed at least until the
new Company is firmly established.
148. Arrangements for the formation of Aden Airv/ays are at present held
up pending the conclusion of negotiations for the joint use of KhormaksaT
Airfield.
TRIPOLITANIA.
1.49. The United States Amy Air Force are withdrawing from Mcllaha on
13th June. Accordingly Trans-World Airways^ who have been using Mellaha
under special pemission, will be asked to transfer to Castle Benito as the
designated civil airport in Tripolitania f
A Survey Party was recently sent out to examine the respective merits
of Castel Benito and Mellaha. They reported in favour of Castel Benito,
which was built before the war as a permanent military camp 3 Mellaha being
a war-time staging post. The runways and approaches are butter at Castel
Benito: in length the main runway at Castel Benito is 7»38>5 that at
Mellaha 6,000 ft. The buildings at Castel Benito are sounder structurally,
and the roads also. Castol Benito is rather further from the town of
Tripoli, but the connecting road is better and the journey can normally be
done by car in 45 minutes. The technical facilities are rather better at
Mellaha, but it is hoped to obtain some of the surplus equipment for
installation at Castel Benito. The position should then be entirely
satisfactory.
A site Conference will shortly he held at Castel Benito to make
arrangements with Royal Air Force for transit accommodation for civil
purposes; this should cover the needs not only of British Overseas
Airways Corporation- whose four-engine services will soon be transferred
from Malta owing to tho reported deterioration of the condition of the
runways at Luqa - but also of foreign charter and private operators*
Castel Benito will be a joint civil and military airfield, involving
some limitation on civil capacity. Being under military administration,
there is no airport Authority of the noraal kind. Passenger handling,
including restaurant, and servicing facilities will in due course be
available by arrangement with British Overseas Airways Corporation. Owing
to Royal Air Force demobilisation, it will take a little time to get the
organisation running adequately on the new basis.
CYRENnICA :
150. There is nothing further to report.
ERITREA:
CYP’ ^
4
ADEN:
151• There is nothing further to report.
CIV. 10645. June, 1947. 5
Planning Division.