SAFETY OF FLYING

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21324, 17 November 1934, Page 16

SAFETY OF FLYING

STATEMENT BY RESEARCH COMMITTEE REDUCTION OF RISKS trßou om own cokhbspokdiwt.) LONDON, September 28. That cautious scientific body, the Aeronautical Research Committee, has declared its belief that flying is safe. In the introduction to its report for the year 1933-34, just published, it states: "Though only 31 years have passed since the first flight of an aeroplane was made, flying may now be regarded as a safe means of transport. "This is due, on the one hand, to the steadily increasing reliability of aircraft engines, and on the other, to the satisfactory development of rules of design which go far to ensure stability and the control of an aeroplane, and the safety of its structure under normal conditions of use. It is seldom that a single-en-gined machine, and very rarely that a multi-engined machine, is forced to land outside an aerodrome by reason of partial or complete engine failure. Further, it is only on rare occasions that an aeroplane gets out of control, or that part of its structure breaks and causes a serious accident." The report states that aeroplanes as now designed should be amply strong to withstand the effects of flying into "sharp-edged" vertical air currents moving at an upward velocity of 30 feet a second. Such conditions are believed to have contributed to serious accidents in past years, and certain changes were made to meet them in the strength requirements governing aircraft design. The danger of lightning to an aircraft in flight is considered comparatively small. The committee records that no instance is known of any fatality occurring because of an aeroplane being struck by lightning, while damage to structure is usually comparatively light. "It seems, therefore, that lightning, however alarming it may appear, does not constitute a serious danger to aeroplanes." Eliminating Breakages The committee does not pretend that any practical aeroplane can be built to withstand the most severe of atmospheric conditions. (No vehicles ever built—ship, railway train, automobile—can withstand them). But it says quite definitely that "it is extremely unlikely that an aeroplane will encounter weather bad enough to break it, if it is built to the present factors of safety." Considered remarks of the kind quoted are of the first importance. The Aeronautical Research Committee has a reputation for painstaking scientific research which is second to none. It has always been chary of making any claim for aviation that could not be substituted and proved not once, but a dozen times.