AVIATION IN UNITED STATES

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 92, 12 January 1929, Page 25

AVIATION IN UNITED STATES

A YEAR’S PROGRESS PHENOMENAL RECORD A phenomenal record of progress in all branches of aviation in the United States is revealed in the annual report of Major C. M. Young, Director of the Aeronautics Branch of the Department of Commerce, which has been received by Mr. Julian M. Koster, American Trade Commissioner in New Zealand. The growth of air commerce and the aircraft industry of the United States, Major Young believes, is due in no small measure to the strict enforcement _ of Federal regulations, which has inspired public confidence in the safety of air transport. , , . During 1927 American factories produced nearly 2000 aircraft having a total value of 14,250,000 dollars, as compared with less than 1200 valued at S, 8(0,000 dollars during the preceding year. Exports of aircraft and parts during 19-7 amounted to nearly _ 2.000,000 ■ dollars, an increase of approximately 85 per cent, over 1926. During the first half of the current year the total sales in foreign markets of aircraft products were 38 per cent, greater than the entire shipments of last year. Commercial Airways. Air transport, Major Young declares, has now attained a definite place in the economic scheme of transportation, lhe established airway system is tire backbone of commercial aviation, although operations over this network form only oue-tenth of all civil ilyiug. These routes now cover 11,191 miles on which 27,817 miles are flown daily. Of these, 10,386 miles are under mail contract and 200 mail ’planes fly 23,224 miles daily over these routes. There are now abBo miles lighted, 1800 miles under contract foi* night flying, and 5308 additional miles considered for lighting during the fiscal year 1929. The cities actually connected by the routes at the close ot the fiscal year numbered 88, the trading areas served containing 80 million people. By the close of the current fiscal year it is believed that almost all of the larger cities and many of the middle-sized communities will be connected by air routes and that smaller feeder lines will serve many outlying to aircraft in flight along the transcontinental route, the report states, will be available within a short time. Radio equipment is under construction for replacing obsolete apparatus now in use. The new apparatus will provide radio-telephone or radio-tele-graph communication as may be required on frequencies between 100 and 500 kiloresearch and testing work was conducted by the Bureau of Standards for the Aeronautics Branch during the period under review. These investigations embraced radio aids to navigation, lighting of airways, sound-proofing of aeroplane cabins, aeroplane control tests, and tests of commercial aircraft engines. Testing Machines and Pilots. Approximately 600 aeroplanes are being built iu American factories each mouth, which have to be inspected as to their airworthiness. It is obvious, Major Young states, that a very efficient organisation of the inspection section is essential in order to carry out the work involved. To this end, factory inspectors are being employed and trained as rapidly as possible for the purpose of inspecting and licensing “new production” aeroplanes at the time they leave the factory. This, it is pointed out, will aid the industry by facilitating the issuance of licenses in the first instance, although these planes will still require periodical reinspection by the field personnel of the Department. . , Applications for pilots’ and mechanics licenses showed ■striking increase during the past fiscal year, due in large measure to the publicity given the epochal fli o hts which occurred during that period. By June 30 last applications were on file tor over 5500 pilots and 0000 mechanics, which was about three times the number of file on the corresponding date previous year. On June 30 ovei applications bad been received for licensing aeroplanes as compared with 1100 at the end of the 1927 fiscal period. Up to June 30 last, licenses had been issued for approximately 3000 pilots, 3000 mechanics, and 2000 aeroplanes. In addition, 4000 applications for students permits have been filed. Working for Safety. Referring to the enforcement of regulations the report shows that during the past fiscal year there were 224 violations, resulting in 65 assessments of the civil penalty, 121 reprimands, 22 suspensions, 2 revocations, and ■"5 . denials of licenses. The violations consisted of acrobatics over prohibited areas, flying "low over congested areas, flying licensed aircraft without a pilot’s license, flying aircraft with no identification numbers displayed, and flying without navigation lights. Among the interesting developments of the past fiscal year cited by Major Young in his report was the creation ot an accident board within his organisation to investigate all civil aircraft accidents with the view to determining and eliminating their causes. This board is composed ot two experienced pilots, a flight surgeon, a lawyer versed in air law, and an aeronautical engineer. A careful analysis of accidents is made and a percentage valuation assigned to contributory causes. This method, it is declared, will provide statistics to show the exact causes of accidents and point the way to their elimination. It will also provide a valuable index to those portions ot the air commerce regulations regarding both personnel and material that may be unnecessarily severe, or where higher safety standards are requisite and more exacting and specific regulations must be imposed.