Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1944 [PAGE 908]

EXTRACTED TEXT FROM PAGE:

1944]

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

905

for two reasons: (a) it would interfere with the future widening of Route 45, and (b) there is considerable doubt as to its adequacy for preventing future damage claims. New studies are under way to develop a better solution of the problem. In the meantime, negotiations with landowners have been suspended. This matter is more fully explained in my confidential letter dated March 8, 1944. 3. No new word has been received from Civil Aeronautics Administration officials regarding the present status of the contract except that it was given Washington approval and had been sent to the lowest bidder contractors for their signatures. 4. I quote from a letter dated March 6, 1944, which was received from Colonel Hyde, A. C , Liaison Officer of the Army Air Forces. "In order that we may properly inform the Eastern Flying Training Command at Maxwell Field, Montgomery, Alabama, what in your opinion, will be the earliest date upon which one runway and servicing taxiway will be ready for use by Chanute Field ? By what date do you believe all runways and taxiways and apron will be ready for use?" I was informed by Mr. Horner of the Civil Aeronautics Administration that he had received a similar letter. H e requested that we withhold our reply until he could gather complete information, and promised to have the data in my hands on the morning of March 8, 1044. Since no reply was received by March 10, 1944, I wrote Colonel Hyde as follows: "The best guess that I can make in regard to the earliest date on which one runway and servicing taxiway will be ready for use by Chanute Field is 1 September 1944, with completion of all taxiways and runways by 1 October 1 9 ^ . This, of course, is contingent upon completion of contractual arrangements and starting of construction by 15 April 1944." 5. Studies related to the development of the building area are continuing. Additional valuable information has been received from American Airlines, Inc. and Northwest Airlines, Inc. A visit was made by University representatives to the Indianapolis Airport to inspect the municipal buildings and runways and the facilities of the Roscoe Turner Aeronautics Corporation.

J. J. DOLAND

This report was received for record.

Supervising Engineer

APPOINTMENT OF DR. BALDWIN M. WOODS AS CONSULTANT ON AERONAUTICS (17) In the development of the University's program of education and research in air transportation and to make the most effective use of the airport and other facilities to be provided for this program, the University needs the advice of men of long experience in air transportation industries, including aircraft manufacturers, operators of transportation lines, and research agencies. I therefore recommend that the Board authorize the appointment of an "Advisory Board on Aeronautics" to assist in the organization and development of this program. Negotiations are now under way with a number of authorities seeking their service in this capacity. I further recommend the appointment of Dr. Baldwin M. Woods, Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of California, as Consultant on Aeronautics and Chairman of the Advisory Board on Aeronautics for the period beginning January 1 and continuing through December 31, 1944, and that he be paid an honorarium of $2,000 for this service plus a travel allowance of $500, a total of $2,500 to be paid in four quarterly installments. The service will require a maximum of four conferences a year at Urbana (which will involve four or five days per trip with a certain amount of interim consideration between trips) and occasional conferences with individuals outside the University. Doctor Woods is a graduate of the University of Texas, E.E. 1908, University of California, M.S. 1909, Ph.D. 1912. H e has been on the faculty of the University of California since 1908, and in addition to his teaching and research has served in several administrative capacities. H e is one of the world's outstanding authorities in Aeronautical Engineering, in which field he has been working