AIR POLICEMEN.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 58, 9 March 1935, Page 7

AIR POLICEMEN.

HESTON AERODROME.

WILL ENFORCE REGULATIONS

MAY DETAIN 'PLANES. (Special Correspondent.—By Air Mail.) LONDON, February 9. The British Air Ministry has appointed the first aerial "traffic cop." By a coincidence this now development in policing the air was announced on the same day as the news from Australia that the police had used an aeroplane for the first time to arrest a man who had fled to Bathurst Island.

The English aerial policeman has duties more strictly connected with flying. He is Captain V. H. Baker, wartime pilot, and one of the best known instructional flyers in England, who has been delegated "authoritative powers of flying control" at Heston aerodrome (Middlesex).

His powers will enable him to lock up anyone who breaks flying regulations, detain aeroplanes, and take whatever steps he considers necessary if he hears of anyone who plans eome unusually foolish etunt.

Heston has become so busy during the past few months that a rigid system of control has been instituted during the busiest hours. It will be Captain Baker's duty now to see that the regulations are followed as rigidly as motor traffic lights are obeyed. And should anyone disobey his commands or intend to do anything "likely to imperil the safety of aircraft, passengers or third parties," he can clap them into whatever temporary gaol he can find on the aerodrome.