MODIFIED SCHEME

Evening Post, Volume CXXIX, Issue 21, 25 January 1940, Page 11

MODIFIED SCHEME

EMPIRE AIR TRAINING

EXISTING DROMES! TO BE USED

'. (from "The Post's" Representative.) VANCOUVER, December' 6. ;' A modified scheme for Empire air . training emerges from the conference held at Ottawa of the delegates from Great Britain, Canada, Australia, and New .Zealand. Original estimates, of the initial cost have*beeri somewhat sharplyrevised. Winter having now set in, it is felt, in Canada that; the immediate , needs of the plan can be met by exist- . ing facilities in this Dominion. Between [ twenty and thirty flying fields, con-' . structed as part of the Trans-Canada ! Airway, are to be adapted for military ■ flying, without interference with their • . original purpose. In addition, ten to . • [ fifteen municipal airports will be . , utilised in the same manner. . ' The possibility that the war might end • suddenly was the principal cause for ; the modification of the plan. Canadian authorities felt that, in such a contingency, elaborate training equipment, in the form of specially erected airports and buildings, would be rendered - useless, as the normal flying needs of the Dominion would be met. by the exist* ing facilities for some time thereafter. It was felt that, by next spring, it would be easier to estimate the duralion of the war, and work out an actuarial basis for the training scheme. The British Government, it is understood, has undertaken to help Canada to meet the firsUcost by providing the necessary aeroplanes, and possibly other equipment. It is bejieved that these planes will be purchased in the United States. Another factor that contributed to ' the present decision is the abnormal number of recruits offering in Canada ' for the air force. Under present plans, > ' Canada's overseas infantry force will be only a fraction of that recruited "• in the last war, leaving a large volume of man-power available for the air. It is expected' that Canada will supply, in the circumstances, more airmen for .. the advance training which the scheme, aims to provide than Australia, New Zealand, or even the Motherland. In this connection, it is pointed out that, towards the end of the Great War, more than one-third of the strength of the Royal Air Force was Canadian.