AIR TRAFFIC.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 29 April 1927, Page 5

AIR TRAFFIC.

NEW DISTRESS SIGNAL

EMPLOYMENT OF WOMEN PILOTS

(British Official Wireless.) ItUuBY, April 27

.V new distress sign for the world’s code of air signals was considered and adopted by the International commission for Air Navigation, which ended its sittings in London to-day. in future any air craft which is in diificulties, not serious enough to warrant tire SOS call, will send out the international signal of PAN, which is an abbreviation for tlie French woru ror breakdown. Tne medical qualifications for male pilots were also examined by the conference and a complete chart of qualities explained and the mental requirements which constitute the perfect pilot were drawn up. The decision that in future women can qualify for “B” certificates in aviation was also reached. This means that even the heaviest class of machines are thrown open to women pilots, the only proviso being that women aviators shall be re-examined medically once in three months, instead of every six, as in the case of men. To navigate a heavy liner a woman would not only have to be a first-class pilot, but her muscular development and general strength would have to be much above the average, and this decision, although it removes any grievance that may be entertained by” women pilots, makes it unlikely that many will employed, except on small machines. It was also agreed that should pilots following a railway or canal be forced to alight they will travel as far away from the the raiway or canal as. possible. A new chapter concerning the standard minimum requirements for an airworthiness certificate was also adopted. Sir Phillip Cunliffe-Lister, Presi dent of the Board of Trade, stated in the House of Commons that negotiations with Germany for a mutual air traffic were making good progress, and he hoped it would be possible to sign flic agreement at an early date.