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Coll 5/25 ‘Air Route to India (Arab Coast): Landing ground at Bahrain; Bahrain Civil Air Agreement’ [‎38v] (76/1088)

The record is made up of 1 file (542 folios). It was created in 13 Sep 1932-19 Dec 1945. It was written in English. The original is part of the British Library: 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. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .

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8 , Sufficient information was left with the Iraq State Railways
Engineering staff to enable them to produce a tentative layout which
could subsequently be referred by the D.C.i'j. to London for comment.
9# Just such a development scheme has since been received, studied
and criticised in certain respects, from an operational point of view
It is still highly desirable that a Civil Engineer should visit the
site and advise on constructional aspects of the project.
B. Basra .
”1. The Port of Basra’s airport at Margil was, when visited, in process
of having its N.W. - S.E. runway extended to the utmost in the former
direction. By now this main runway should be fully 2,000 yards long by
50 yards wide. The construction is such that it should prove strong
enough regularly to stand the weight of the heaviest aircraft now flying.
2. The construction of two other new runways, approximately 3*000 yards
long is contemplated. The erection of a new terminal building on a site
suitably located with respect to the new, - as opposed to the existing -
runways, is also contemplated. As however the N.V/. - S.E. runway has been
shown by statistics compiled locally to be in use on 71 % of all occasions
and as its optimum length has already been reached, the wisdom of
proceeding with this plan was queried.
3* Thereafter an offer was made - and gladly accepted by Mr. Coleman,
the Port Managering Director, and All Fuad, the airport Manager - that
after the surface wind analysis had been undertaken, a possible alternative
layout would be suggested. Work on the wind analysis has now been completed
in London, on the basis of meteorological data received by pose from Basra.
Having given the abovementioned undertaking, an inspection was made of the
almost level desert land to the South-West of the existing landing area.
A plan showing the existing roads and railway lines in this vicinity was
requested and has since been supplied. The only obstructions of any
consequence in the vicinity are cranes in the dock area and the wireless
masts belonging to the civil and the Admiralty radio stations, situated
to the South-West of the existing airport.
4. .Advice was tendered on the spot concerning:-
(a) taxy-v/ay arrangements to serve the far end of the fully
extended main runway;
(b) night lighting for the new extension, and
(c) appropriate siting for a new Tv'/T Homing Beacon.
5* Arrangements were also made for Wing Commander Laws, Civil Signals
Representative in the Middle East, to visit the airport and advise the
proprietors generally on communication matters.
6 , The fact that current British policy entails by-passing Basra
altogether, in so far as long and medium stage Empire Trunk Services are
concerned, was mentioned in conversation. The Port officers regard
this as a political decision that is not irrevocable as far as Iraq
officialdom is concerned. They claim with some force that -
G .108092

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Content

The file contains correspondence related to negotiations surrounding the Bahrain Civil Air Agreement (1934) between the British Government and the Government of Bahrain, along with subsequent amendments and renewals, and issues arising from the implementation of the agreement. Occasional reference is made to similar agreements with Kuwait, Muscat, and Sharjah. It also covers the preliminary negotiations in 1933 between Imperial Airways and the Government of Bahrain, and the file contains three draft versions of this agreement: see folios 489-495, 516-518, and 533-539. The latter negotiations are superseded by negotiations for the Civil Air Agreement, following a decision to standardise civil aviation procedures across the Arab Shaikhdoms.

Issues related to Muharraq Aerodrome and the Manama Flying Boat base are also covered in the file, which includes the application of a legal definition of an aerodrome to Bahrain, and efforts to define the geographical extent of these air bases. This includes negotiations with the Government of Bahrain for the purchase of additional land round the Muharraq Airfield for the Royal Air Force (RAF), and the extension of facilities such as the pier at Manama. A sketch map produced by the Government of Bahrain in 1944 can be found on folio 133 in relation to a proposal from the British Government to acquire an area – referred to as area 'C' – adjacent to the Muharraq Aerodrome for the RAF.

A map can be found on folio 245 showing the approaches to Bahrain harbour, which is included as a result of negotiations to establish a flying boat service through Bahrain in 1937.

The Arabic language content is limited to a copy of the Bahrain Civil Air Agreement (1934), which contains both Arabic and English translations (see folios 332-348), and a few items of additional correspondence with the Shaikh of Bahrain, Shaikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifah [Shaikh, Ḥamad bin ‘Īsá Āl Khalīfah].

The main correspondents are as follows: 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. in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. (Trenchard Craven William Fowle, Hugh Weightman, and Charles Geoffrey Prior), the Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. at Bahrain, officials of the Air Ministry, and officials of 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. . Occasional reference is made to the Government of Bahrain via Charles Dalrymple Belgrave, Adviser to the Government of Bahrain.

The file includes a divider which gives a list of correspondence references contained in the file by year. This is placed at the back of the correspondence.

Extent and format
1 file (542 folios)
Arrangement

The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the rear to the front of the file.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence for this description commences at the inside front cover with 1, and terminates at the last folio with 543; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio.

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English in Latin script
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Coll 5/25 ‘Air Route to India (Arab Coast): Landing ground at Bahrain; Bahrain Civil Air Agreement’ [‎38v] (76/1088), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/12/1972, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100054514174.0x00004f> [accessed 28 March 2024]

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