CIVIL AVIATION

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 80, 1 September 1945, Page 3

CIVIL AVIATION

DECIDED FUTURE IN DOMINION COUNTRY PARTICULARLY SUITED VIEWS OF FIGHTER PILOT Wellington, This Day. “This country has a decided t'uluic n civil aviation, partly because of its solution and because of the nature >f the land.” said New Zealand's highest scoring tighter pilot, Wing-Com-nunder Colin Gray, in an interview in rVellington, yesterday. Wing-Command-er Gray recently returned to New Zealand after serving over six years in :he R.A.F. in Europe, where he won ;he D. 5.0.. D.F.C., and two bars. Civil aviation was going to make rapid strides, ami New Zealand was particularly suited for it. Provided aerodromes were built near the towns so as lo cut down the travelling time, air transport would probably become more popular than any other means of travel. The only disadvantage of air travel in England is the distance of the civil aerodromes from the cities. More often than not, it takes about half an hour to reach your destination after landing. If we are to haVe aerodromes a long way from the centres of New Zealand then it will be necessary to institute a particularly fust transport system to ami from the aerodrome.” Questioned about the possibility of oxR.A.F. personnel being absorbed into civil aviation, he said it would he only bomber pilots and crews who would qualify as vivil transport pilots. Fighter pilots, with whom lie had been mainly associated. would be of little use to the civil airways, as they had less experience with navigation and practically none with multi-engined aircraft. “It is experience that is going to count. To obtain a commercial licence you are required to have completed a certain amount of night flying, but I understand it is intended to waive some of the civil pilot’s examinations. As long as an airman has attained the R.A.F. standard of navigation he will probably be accepted for civil aviation.” Concerning the rehabilitation of air force personnel, he said that most of the long service pilots were likely to return to their civilian occupations, while a few like himself had applied for permanent commissions. In his case permanency had been granted, and he was awaiting a medical examination before resuming his duties. The ground staff men, however, were differently situated. They were encouraged to take up trades while in the air force, and the majority could b e absorbed into useful civilian occupations without any difficulty. Aman who had worked on the maintenance of aircraft engines would he a useful employee in the motor industry, while wireless operators and other types of It.A.F. personnel could fill the many vacancies for wireless mechanics, and so “They were very concerned about rehabilitation in the air force. Educational and vocational classes were beginning to function to a greater extent when I left England.” Replying to a question about the recent letters of complaint from New Zealand airmen in England concerning their alleged inactivity. Wing Commander Gray said the cessation of combat operations in Europe did not cause a great difference in a pilot’s activities. There was not the danger of enemy attacks and anti-aircraft. guns, hut, apart from that, patrol activity continued as in wartime. The Air Ministry had planned training schemes years ahead, and these could not be terminated suddenly simply because the war had ended. The only men who were inactive were members of the officers’ training units.