CIVIL AVIATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17109, 14 March 1919, Page 5

CIVIL AVIATION.

LITTLE STATE SUPPORT. MACHINE WHICH HOVERS. A. and N.Z. LONDON. Mar. 12. Though details are not available, it is understood that the Air Estimates allow only a small amount for civil aviation. Some protests have been made against the Minister's slowness to devote adequate attention to the civil branch.

It is reported that experiments on a Helicopeter aeroplane, enabling the machine to rise vertically and hover in the air, offer prospects of some success. FORECAST OF STATE AID. Speaking at Manchester recently, Lord Inverforth, then Secretary of State for the Royal Air Force, forecasted the creation of a new Government department to control civil aviation. Lord Inverforth said:— new Department should, of course, spring out of the existing Air Ministry, which must be reconstituted and reorganised, so as not only to control the administration of the Royal' Air Force t but to act as the supreme authority for the development of civil aviation. The first essential step of the new Ministry should bo to organise international flying—flying between different countries. This will involve an international aircraft convention. I may say that wa have already drafted tho articles of this convention, which is being submitted to our allies. If they substantially approve it, an international ,air conference will be held; and I have reason to anticipate that within the next four or five months the principal nations of the world will have reached agreement on this momentous matter. Similarly, domestic legislation will have to be passed for the regulation of flying in this country. The draft Bill is now ready, and T antici- [ pate that within a few weeks of the opening of the new Parliament a useful Act will come into force. As a part of the help, encouragement, and guidance which I mentioned a moment ago the new Department will have to provide a thoroughly efficient technical section for research and experimental purposes, which section would work in closest touch with private industry. Substantial public expenditure would bo necessary for the opening up of new avenues of progress and for the development of what is proved to be good in private enterprise, Further the State should acquire in permanence a largo proportion of the existing military aerodromes, and should render them available for general use by leasing sheds to private operational companies and merely charging a fee for landing. In this way, while the State would not 'suffer, private enterprise would be relieved of an exceedingly heavy capital charge. The .Department should undertake the training of all pilots to be employed on public transport services, whether such services are in the hands of the Department itself or in private hands. Such a course would fulfil two purposes. It would secure public confidence in the efficiency of the pilots, and it would provide a reserve of pilots for the Royal 'Air Forco in times of emergency. From the superabundance of machines at its disposal upon the conclusion of peace, (suitable for conversion to commercial use, the State should be ready to dispose of a considerable number at a low price to private operational companies. The new Department should undertake the mapping out and the marking of aerial routes, the lighting of the same by day and by night, and the inspection and certification of all private aircraft. And, above all, it should attend to special meteorological developments. Finally, the new Department must be ready to undertake mails, 1 goods and passenger services wherever private enterprise may be found lacking.