Two flights were to start yesterday; which will have a profound influence an the future of commercial aviation, They are the double crossing of the Atlantic by the Imperial Airways flying boat Caledonia and Pan-American Airways American Clipper with the object of inaugurating @ regular Atlantic service which will be operated jointly by the two concerns. These flights are the culmination of months of observation and preparation and with Newfoundland and 1reland as the two termini there are bright prospects before this Anglo-American undertaking which will bring the Old World and the New, within a day's flying distance. Since the initiation of this undertaking there has been a commendable conservatism observed in order to rid the crossing of the hazards and hardships which spectacular flights- by, airmen of several countries have emphasized rather than minimized. Based on the experience and results of other long land and ocean air lines, such as the Pan-Pacific service, there is no reason to believe that the new venture will not be a complete success and as safe as any other route in spite of the temper of the notorious Atlantic. Public confidence is the keynote of all air enterprises and to strengthen this the Washington authorities wisely banned the proposed Atlantic air race on the grounds that any accidents which might, ensue by sacrificing safety to speed in a mad dash to Paris might react unfavourably, in the public mind, on the new service Which means so much to communica-ions,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.