AVIATION IN BRITAIN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20172, 5 February 1929, Page 9

AVIATION IN BRITAIN.

PRACTICAL NEW SYSTEM.

GRANTS TO FLYING CLUBS.

DETAILS OF THE AGREEMENT.

(Received February 4, 5.25 p.m.) British "Wireless. RUGBY, Feb. 3. Tho full details of the plan for the formation of an organisation which, with official support, is to provide a practical flying system for the wholo of Britain, are explained by Sir Samuel Hoare, secretary of Stale for the Air in tho White Paper issued yesterday. Tho agreement is being made by tho Air Ministry with the National Flying Services Company. There is provision for a grant to that company of Government assistance over a period of 10 years. The company has been formed for the purpose, inter alia 1 , of tcstablishing near London and at a number of provincial centres, civil flying clubs,, and facilities for training and practice in flying; also of providing a number of civil aerodromes and landing grounds.

The Government's asistance is to take tho form of a grant payable in respect of each club member who qualifies for the issue or renewal of a pilot's licence, in aircraft belonging to a club which is of British make and registered in Britain. Present service in the Royal Air Force, the Air Force Reserve or the Auxiliary Air Force, or past service in those forces as a pilot—unless that service terminated before August 31, 1921—will be a bar to the grant. The rate of the grant for the first three years will be £lO for each club member who qualifies, subject to a maximum of £15,000 a year, and for the next seven years it will be £5. The aggregate of the grants payable for any year will be limited to £7500, or such sum as may be required to bring the profits of the company for the year up to tho 5 per cent, of tho paid-up capital. After 10 years no grants will bo payable. The payment of the grants will be dependent upon the fulfilment by the company of an undertaking to provide and maintain, directly or indirectly, 20 new aerodromes and 80 new landing grounds in Britain within three years. Captain F. E. Guest, who was Secretary of State for Air, 1921-2, and is now Squadron-Leader of No. 600, City of London (bombing) Squadron, will bo the chairman of the company. Included among the directors are the Master of Semphill, the president of the Royal Aeronautical Society, and Sir Alan Cobharn.