GIVEN PARACHUTES

Grey River Argus, 20 October 1939, Page 10

GIVEN PARACHUTES

NEW SOUTH AFRICAN PILOTS. Military paraclnfes have now bcei issued to all South African .pup' pilot training schools, and 350 pup? pilots who are undergoing train.n ; will have the proper safeguards, leports the “Johannesburg Star." Parachutes for mil iary training are particularly important in the pre.iminary stages of Hying. There has been considerab'e erf.cism of the authorities owing to lit? tardiness in issuing parachute';. “We are put to considerab e incon venience to qualify under the scheme, for even with the latitude. pernrlte:’ by employers, to complete the scheme ■is very clitlieult,” was the opinion expressed recently. “Flying occupies u.; i n the late afternoons and the er’’ 'moinngs and what is left •of our spare time is taken up with study and lectures. And while we are wTing enough to do this, we have felt. for some time that at least we should be permitted the safeguards which other military pilots enjoy.”

There has been no congestion on parachute orders, a representative of the "Star" was told. Private individuals and gliding clubs have had no dihicuity in obtaining parachutes from overseas.

An oliicer stated that primavi’;,' the. two-year delay was caused while the authorities were deciding whether parachutes should be the responsibil'ty of Hying schools or of the m ;| 'ta”” The flying clubs have maintained that the extra expenditure of parachutes outside their means.