Page 394 - Bahrain Gov Annual Reports (I)_Neat

392 'sift
Imperial Airways.

On 6tli October 1932, the first machine of the
Imperial Airways landed in Bahrain on the R. A. F.
landing ground behind the Palace, The machine sunk
into the ground and was only able to rise, next day

vdth great difficulty. From then onwards the Imperial
Airways used the I’uharraq plain as an aerodrome and

agreed that they would pay whatever fees or rental
were decided upon when a definite agreement was made
between the Company and the government, the payment

was to coiiiuence from the date on which tne aerourome
was first used.

Innumerable officials of the Imperial Airways and
the R.a.F officers visited Bahrain, discussed the
proposed agreement end examined sites for aerodromes.

Several draft agreements were produced and have been
the subject of corresoondence but so far no agreement
has been made and no decision has been arrived at as

to where the permanent aerodrome is to be situated.
The Government of Bahrain while appreciating the
benefits of the Air service is not prepared to allow

the company free facilities for landing and it consi­
ders that the company should pay to the government a

reasonable amount, either annually or for each landing,
similar to the fees charged in other countries, For
the last eight months the government has provided a

police guard on the aerodrome on each occasion that a
machine has landed in Bahrain,
The lenpthly delay on the part of the company in

coming to any arrangement is thought by the government
to be somev'hat unreasonable.

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