TOPDRESSING PILOTS

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27636, 18 April 1955, Page 14

TOPDRESSING PILOTS

FARMERS DISCUSS INSURANCE REFERENCES TO RECENT CRASHES (New Zealand Press Association) HASTINGS, April 16. Three recent crashes of topdressing planes in Hawke’s Bay were discussed at a meeting of the provincial executive of Federated Farmers. A group insurance scheme subscribed to by fanners was suggested, and mem- °. < r r . ! ?,, deci ? ed to investigate the possibility of supplementing insurances ? n j: “ ves of pilots by means of a loading on the normal charges for aerial topdressing. Mr R. A. Edgecumbe (Waipukurau) said complaints had been made of the texture of some bulk fertiliser. The latest crash, in which a new Fletcher aircraft, piloted by Mr M. P. Bartrum, had been involved might have been avoided had the pilot been ab Je to jettison his load, he said. The fertiliser had packed solid in the aeroplane’s hopper, and was not released when the mechanism was opened after the aeroplane. had been caught in a down-draught. “This was one crash which might have been avoided had the load been jettisoned,” said Mr Edgecumbe, “and we may have more crashes.”

Mr F. H. R. Gilbertson said: “These men are playing with death all the time and we, as farmers, should appreciate it. They are working for us and we should do something.” Mr D. G. McHardy said that if something was not done, the topdressing industry would die through lack of pilots. The meeting decided to seek more information on insurance schemes available to topdressing pilots.