LOW FLYING

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVI, Issue 63, 11 September 1943, Page 6

LOW FLYING

AIR.BOARD ORDER

"DESIGNED TO SAVE LIVES"

Referring to the comment concerning the action taken by the Air Department in requesting severe penalties for low-flying offences, the Minister of Defence (Mr. Jones) said that the order was issued by jthe Department on July 21 last, and was as follows: —

1. The following instructions regarding the treatment of offenders against low-flying regulations are to be brought to the notice of all concerned. In addition paragraphs 2, 3, and 4 below are to be read out once a month to all pupil pilots at elementary flying training schools, service flying training schools, and operational training units. A copy of this order is to be placed in the Flying Order Book of all R.N.Z.A.F. stations.

2. The Air Board has reason to believe that a sufficiently serious view of offences of low flying contravention of K.R. and A.C.1., para. 717, and especially those consisting of unauthorised aerobatics, is not always taken by officers and airmen pilots of the Royal New Zealand Air Force. 3. Unnecessary loss of personnel and valuable aircraft and equipment brought about by low-flying offences is an impediment to the war effort, the seriousness of which cannot be too strictly emphasised. Pilots must therefore take every possible precaution to see losses resulting from avoidable accidents are obviated.

4. There can be but few cases where in the absence of mitigating circumstances a sentence of dismissal of an officer or a sentence of detention in the case of an airman pilot would not be justified where an offender is tried by court-martial and found guilty of a serious and deliberate breach of lowflying regulations. It should be noted that in the case of an n.c.o. a sentence of detention would automatically entail reduction to the ranks. 5. All officers sitting on a courtmartial in respect of a low-flying offence should bear in niind the necessity for reducing the prevalence of low-flying offences. They should m all cases have no hesitation in imposing a sentence calculated to be, a sufficient future deterrent to others, remembering that section 57 (1) Air Force Act- empowers the confirming authority in all cases to mitigate, remit or commute the punishment awarded. 6. Before disposing of a prima facie case against a pilot otherwise than by court-martial, air officers commanding are to consult the Air Department as to their proposed action, but this does not in any way affect their power to dispose as they think fit of cases which in their opinion:! do not fall within the category of low-flying offences. 7. The Air Board looks to instructors at all times and particularly when flying with pupils to observe all provisions laid down on low flying. The^,Air Board wishes it to be known that in cases of serious and deliberate breach of low-flying regulations by officers or airmen, it may, whether or not the offender be tried by court-martial, permanently transfer offenders from flying duties to ground duties. "This order follows the practice adopted in other countries and is ah most a copy of the order issued by the United Kingdom Government," ' said Mr. Jones. "It is designed to save lives. I am sure that this intention will have the support of every member of the public."