Sullivan Reports On Work At Air Talks

Northern Advocate, 2 December 1944, Page 2

Sullivan Reports On Work At Air Talks

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, This Day. Prospects of a general agreement on economic ancl organisational questions at the International Civil Aviation Conference at Chicago varied from day-to-day and hour-to-hour, but whatever the final results may be in that respect, the progress made by technical experts in preparation cf standards for inclusion in a universal convention embodying all technical standards procedures essential to safety and efficiency in world air navigation, has exceeded all expectations, states Ihe Chairman of the New Zealand delegation (Hon. D. G. Sullivan), in a report to Ihe Government. .. The work has been divided into sections embracing communications procedures, airway systems, rules of the air, traffic control orocodures. licensing .of personnel, airworthiness, registration, meteorology, maps and charts, accident investigation, publications and forms and customs procedures. Technical experts at the conference were faced with a need to negotiate a technical code acceptable to all nations. Excellent Preparatory Work The variety of subjects under consideration was so wide ancl involved that, it never was anticipated that the task would be completed in Chicago. Due largely ro Ihe excellent preparatory work carried out by the Civil Aeronautics Board and civil aeronautics authority of the Department of Commerce, in (he United Stales, however, such progress has been made that completion of the work should proceed without delay after the conference. Mr Sullivan pointed out that, the New Zealand delegation was unable, through lack of numbers, like many other delegations from small nations, to be represented at all meetings of the 10 technical committees. Representation on these committees was mainly tho responsibility of Wing-Commander J. M. Buckeridge, Acting Controller for Civil Aviation, whose work was much respected by his fellow technicians. Air Commodore Nevill. Vice-Chief of the Royal Now Zealand Air Force, also had given substantial assistance in the technical field in addition to his other ■delegare duties. Mr Sullivan said that a conference of this nature, the first of its kind, touched on all aspects of global aviation and he felt that the New Zealand delegation had fully contributed to the conference activities.