AIR CRASHES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 108, 8 May 1937, Page 16

AIR CRASHES.

INQUIRY METHODS. INSTANT ACTION URGED. BEQUEST TO FEDERATION. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent J HAWERA, this day. The necessity for immediate action with regard to the conduct of air crash inquiries and the "unsatisfactory*' agreement which Western Federated pilots are at present compelled to sign is to be urged at the next meeting of the Western Federated Clubby the Hawera Club. Both questions have been brought to prominence as a result of the inquiry into the forced landing of t!:•> aeroplane piloted by Mr. Wilson Potaka.

Commenting on the fact that no correspondence relating to the Hawera Club's recommendations on the question of air crash inquiries was to hand, Mr. K. Syme, at the meeting of the Hawera Club executive, poin\ed out that two federation meetings had been held since they had last received any word on the subject. It seemed likely that the whole question would be shelved as had happened when the Hawera Club had protested two years ago. Nothing would he done until another crash occurred and they would again have someone making statements about '"dictators." Clarification Wanted. The necessity for clarification of the position as to expert advice had again been shown when at an inquest following a recent crash at Invercargill the coroner's ruling had forbidden experts ' to question other witnesses. Dr. W. F. Buist, chairman, delegate to the Western Federated Club, said he was fairly sure that the question would be dealt with at the next federation meeting. He was prepared to wait until after the next meeting of the federation, but failing a satisfactory decision there he thought the Hawera Club should take action on its own account, said Mr. Syme. A motion that failing a satisfactory decision at the next federation meeting the Hawera Club make a further protest to the federation and to the Controller of Civil Aviation, proposed by Mr. L. ■O. Hooker, was carried. The feeling that existed among pilots as to the agreements they were being compelled to sign was described by Mr. B. Haybittle. Terms of Identification. Strong exception was taken particularly to the terms of indemnification against 'plane damage. Since the Potaka inquiry, when it had been discovered that Mr. Potaka had not signed one of these papers, regulations- had . been strictly enforced and pilots were being forbidden the use of 'planes until they had signed. He had had to sign this agreement before being allowed a 'plane for a recent flight to Rotorua. He had signed but had affixed a footnote terminating his liability after 30 days. "At the last meeting of the federation it was decided that the agreement was not a good one and that it would have to be revised. "On top of that they take vigorous steps to make pilots sign it," remarked Mr. Syme. The meeting asked Dr. Buist to make a special point of this question at the next federation meeting.