FLYING PERSONNEL

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 3, 3 July 1940, Page 7

FLYING PERSONNEL

TRAINING POLICY

NEW MEMBER OF AIR

COUNCIL

{British Official Wireless.!

(Received July 3, noon.)

RUGBY, July 2,

| The Secretary of State for Air (Sir Archibald Sinclair) announced in the House of Commons that a number of steps already taken would have the effect of speeding up very considerably the output of pilots and other flying personnel during the next few months. He had also decided that all departments of the' Air Ministry concerned with training should be placed under the direction of a new member of the Air Council, to be called Air Member for Training, charged, not only with responsibility for the training policy and for the success of the training programme, but with ensuring. that the training organisation at all times is adequate to meet the requirements of the service and keep pace with the increased flow of production that could be anticipated, both from British factories and from the United States. He would also have a special responsibility for all matters connected with the Empire air training scheme. The officer selected for the appointment was Air Vice-Marshal A. G. R. Garrod.

(By Telegraph—Press AssociaUon— Copyright.)

(Received July 3, 1 p.m.)

LONDON, July 2,

Air Vice-Marshal Garrod is 49 years of age. He has had wide experience, as a member of the R.A.F. operational staff, of training questions. One of his principal functions will be to balance the output of Empire pilots with training and aircraft production in Britain. The Empire largely relies on Britain for the supply of machines and instructional personnel.. The new member of the Air Council will be responsible for seeing that this assistance will be forthcoming promptly as the circumstances permit. Britain at present has more pilots- than machines, but it is emphasised that she requires many more pilots in order to meet greatly accelerated production and purchases from abroad. Britain has almost reached capacity in her training facilities.