R.A.F. PILOTS

Evening Star, Issue 25714, 11 February 1946, Page 10

R.A.F. PILOTS

THE LATEST GRADING As a safety measure and to .keep up' the standard of instrument flying attained during the war, the It.A.F. has introduced a system of grading pilots according to tlieir ability in flying by instruments. This will ensure that no pilot has to contend with conditions for which he has inadequate experience, writes the aeronautical correspondent of ' The Times ' of London. Rated pilots are being divided into two classes—holders of green cards, who are permitted to use their own discretion as to the suitability or otherwise of the weather for making an authorised flight; and holders of white cards, who have proved their ability at instrument flying, but are not in full flying practice. The latter will be subject to certain weather restrictions. The rating cards will have to be renewed every 12 months. ' To obtain a green card pilots must have flown at least 750 hours as first pilot, of which a minimum of 50 hours was instrument flying. At least five hours must have" been during the preceding six months. For a white card a pilot must have hac], at least five hours' instrument flying or two hours' actual instrument flying and eight hours' simulated conditions in a synthetic trainer. Pilots who are not rated will have to submit flight plans, and will be allowed to fly only in conditions of good visibility.