ABSTRACT
France developed early a thick network of international air services in Europe, with French lines running as far east as Warsaw and Istanbul, Air transport companies under French auspices were organised also in South America. S.A.B.E.N.A., the only Belgian air transport enterprise, in which the State and the Congo Colony together hold a majority of the stock, was also government controlled. In addition to its European-Congo services and those within the Colony, it operated a service between the Belgian Congo and Cairo. The Empire Air Mail Scheme, was also being provided for Under this scheme all first-class mail between the United Kingdom and all countries of the Empire served by the South Africa, India and Australia air services were to be carried by air. The plans naturally affected Imperial Airways personnel and equipment. At the end of 1936 there were employed 184 pilots and 100 radio operators, as compared with 154 and 54 respectively the previous year.
