The Aerodrome, as the point of contact between the aircraft and the world of reality, has to a large extent been taken for granted. The designer regards it as the base for prototype tests and the airline operator as his aerial railway station. It is my intention to show that aerodrome development is at a critical stage of evolution on this side of the Atlantic, that many of the related problems do concern the aircraft designer and operator, and that if these problems are not given consideration, difficulties will be encountered in civil operations.

To quote an example; the optimum aircraft type to serve a system of air routes can be worked out taking into consideration the range required, payload and speed, but if the aircraft ultimately ordered and produced cannot safely operate from the aerodromes to be served because of the runway length and approaches, then the operations will either have to be reorganised or continued without due regard for safety.