FLYING AS A PROFESSION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19623, 29 October 1925, Page 10

FLYING AS A PROFESSION.

Young 1 men of good education who look with longing at ships hying high in the air, aften ask whether flying is a pnv fession, states the “Scientific American.” It would appear from the 1924 Canadian Report on Civil Aviation that it is. At any rate, the Air Board of Canada has taken the wise stand of giving licenses to pilots and requiring certain definite qualifications. Aeroplane pilots are subdivided into private and commercial pilots, the former not authorised to fty for hire. Each class is again subdivided into three 1 classes, planes of 1000' pounds or less, planes of §OOO pounds or less, and heavy planes of over 3000 pounds. All classes of pilots are required to pass an examination on the construction, maintenance, and functions of the aircraft, its engine and accessories. They must have a knowledge as to rules of lights and signals, rules of the air and the conduct of. traflic in the vicinity of airports, map reading, orientation, and elementary meteorology. They must pass a medical examination and be tested in a cross-country flight of 175 miles, as well as in a night flight. Similar certificates are granted to ground personnel, termed air engineers, on whom is .thrown the heavy responsibility of maintaining planes in an airworthy condition. In practise this licensing of pilots and grouncj engineers has proved eminently successful with a decrease in the number of accidents.