AVIATION INQUIRY.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 22 March 1938, Page 6

AVIATION INQUIRY.

; CO-OPERATION OF ; INSTRUCTORS. ; PUPIL PILOTS AND ACROBATIC • INSTRUCTION. (By Telegraph—Press Association). CHRISTCHURCH, Last Night. The extent of co-operation between chief instructors and other instructors at aero clubs, the amount of training necessary before aerobatics were practised by trainees and the enforcement of rules governing the practice of aerobatics by club members were points raised in an inquiry to-day into the crash of a Miles Magister aeroplane at Prebbleton on February 26, when Clifford Albert Burmister, aged 22, a Civil Reserve trainee at the Canterbury Aero Club, was killed.

The Board of Inquiry consisted of Mr. W. F. Stillwell, S.M., Commander A. G. Gerrand, of Union Airways, and Commander G. Bolt, of Cook Strait Airways. Dr. N. A. Foden represented the Air Department and with him was Mr. R. C. Kean, inspector of accidents, in the Air Department.

James Leslie Will, orthopaedic surgeon, of Christchurch, said that he attended Burmister for three years at the age of seven. At that time he had a tubercular hip joint and was treated in plaster of paris for many months. He made a good recovery, and as far as witness knew was free of all symptoms after he went from under medical care.

Mr. Foden asked whether witness would hazard an opinion whether such an early illness would have any effect on Burxnister when flying. Witness: If he had any disability of the hip, I am sure the examining doctor must have observed it. There would have been no risk of a sudden happening in the air.

Leonard Frederick Poore, honorary assistant instructor to the Canterbury Aero Club, said that he had flown the Magister machine for the first time on the day before the accident for 65 minutes. “I told Burmister that the machine was not suitable for him to practice aerobatics in,.'' witness said, ‘‘l told him that I would give him further instruction in a Moth.”

Witness said he did not suggest that the Magister was not a suitable machine for aerobatics, but that they should not be practised at Burmister's stage of training. He was quite sure that he made this quite clear to Burmister. Witness had not mentioned to Mr. Stedman, the club's chief instructor, that Burmister had had a lesson in aerobatics at the time. There was an understanding between Mr. Stedman and himself that he was to give instruction to Civil Reserve trainees, and he understood that he could to some extent use his discretion in the instruction he gave.

Mr. Foden; Did that discretion enable you to give lessons in stunting? Witness: I think so. Later Mr. Foden said: What I am getting at, Mr. Poore, as we are out to correct any weaknesses in the system, is that there was lack of co-operation in the instruction. Did you give instruction in aerobatics by implied or express authority? Witness: Implied authority.

Mr. Foden: Was there any understanding that you should push the trainees along as quickly as you could? Witness: No; we were to push the training along, but not the pupils in their training.

Gerald Lomax Stodman, chief instructor for the Canterbury Aero Club, said that Burmister was very slow to start with. He was a little “heavy handed” with a Moth, but he handled the Magister very well in the circumstances.

Mr. Foden: Had he reached the stage where he was competent to receive instruction in aerobatics?*

Witness: It is hard to answer yes or no. We did not think that he was far enough advanced for aerobatics, but if he had not been given instruction he would have done them himself. Witness had seen Burmister spinning in a machine the day befoie. Mr. Foden: You don’t suggest they do aerobatics after 20 hours’ flying or so? Witness: But they do.

The chairman: Because you saw him spinning in the air, you thought that be should be given instruction in aerobatics?

Stedman said that Poore understood the situation thoroughly, and there was no need for much discussion on what ought and what ought not to t>e done. What Poore did generally had witness ’ approval, and he left it to Poore’s discretion to give instruction In aerobatics whan he thought fit. This referred to Moth machines. In Burmister’s case it would have been better to give instructions in aerobatics in a Moth first and proceed to lessons in the Magister later. Witness said that he had given Burmister permission to take up the Magister solo, but he did not have it in mind that Burmister intended to perform aerobatics. Witness said that the club’s attitude on the matter was as follow's: “No member shall perform aerobatics in a club aircraft unless he has previously received permission from the club’s instructor.” Burmister had

not received permission. . It was a case of breaking the rules. It was customary to take disciplinary action in such cases, but wdtness had not had the opportunity to speak to Burmister, whom he intended to admonish.

Edward * George Olsen, squadron leader in the Eoyal New Zealand Air Force and officer commanding and chief instructor at the Wigram Aerodrome, said that he examined Poore for an

instructor’s license, made a favourable

report and recommended that he be issued with a provisional license. The short course as given to Poore was intended only to show the system under which they should give instruction. The course did not include instruction in giving instruction in aerobatics. Two hours would probably be the minimum of instruction before a trainee should do aerobatics. Witness felt there should be closer co-operation in giving instruction where there was more than one instructor in the same club. Hoy Champion Kean said that the opinion was formed that the machine struck the ground at a considerable speed at an angle of between 40 and 50 degrees. It was the opinion of witness that this pilot did not have tne special experiences necessary to carry out aerobatic manoeuvres in this typo of machine. If Burmister was only 700 feet when he entered a spin, the margin of height of safety was insufficient for any but the most skilful and experienced pilot. The hearing was adjourned for ;he bo.ard to make a report and recommendations to the Department.