CIVIL AVIATION

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 128, 27 November 1944, Page 4

CIVIL AVIATION

FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES

Interest in the proceedings at the International Civil Aviation Conference in Chicago had for the last ten days centred on the issue of confidential discussions between the United Kingdom, United States, and Canadian delegations on fundamental principles governing air transport and navigation, says a report from the New Zealand delegation to the Government. Reports made to the plenary session of all committees of the conference held on Wednesday emphasised that while agreement was more limited than hoped, it was still possible that further consideration might result in agreement on major points still unsettled. What had been achieved to date represented considerable progress, adds the report. The work of ten technical sub-committees of the conference was now complete and there was substantial agreement between 51 nations for the adoption of recommended practices affecting air-worthiness, air navigation, air traffic control, communications systems, air navigation aids, registration, and search for missing aircraft. That represented the fusion of ideas of the major Powers of the world and should, when finally adopted by Governments, avoid difficulties inherent in the present system of the two conventions, Paris and Havana, containing different standards. DISAPPOINTMENT EXPRESSED. Disappointment was expressed by the chairman of the New Zealand delegation, Mr. D. G. Sullivan, that it was not apparently possible up to this moment to secure agreement on vital principles of commercial air transport. He pointed to the necessity of government in the relations of men, and the importance, in view of the dynamic character of air transport, that its development be controlled in an orderly way. Ruthless competition in aviation, with the possibility of serious ill feeling between nations, must at all cost be avoided, and it was the duty of all representatives at the conference to reach agreement on the principles of air transport which would ensure that adequate capacity for the traffic offering was available on all international routes, and to offer to all peoples an opportunity of participating on an equitable basis in air commerce. Mr. Sullivan's views on the necessity for agreement were echoed by Mr. La Guardia, Mayor of New York, and the leaders of many other delegations.