HASTE IN AIR EXPANSION

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19240, 4 February 1937, Page 15

HASTE IN AIR EXPANSION

TRAINING DANGERS GERMAN GASUALTIES 50 ACCIDENTS A MONTH LONDON, Dec. 8. Intensive- flight training in the German air force, to make up tor the years when the air force was ron-existent, has during the past few months entailed heavy casuThere is reason to believe that for a period up to the end of October there was an average of 50 training accidents a month. Of these a considerable minority were fatal. . On representations made to the German Air Minister, General Goering, steps were taken, recently to spread training over a longer period and to adopt improved methods. ~ The reported figures are of considerable interest. If the proportion of casualties to the total number of men under training were the same in Germany as it is in the British Air Force we should be forced to the conclusion that at least A) times as many Air Force pilots are under training in Germany, whereas the number is less than 30 per cent greater. NEW BRITISH TRAINING PLANES The 'cause of the heavy casualty rate in Germany is an effort to expand the air force at a greater rate than is consistent with true economy and efficiency. In Great Britain training has developec ■steadily, and although <or many years restricted as to numbers it has been uninterrupted. . At the civil flying schools, at which preliminary flight training for the R.A.F. is given, not more than three fatal accidents have occurred this year and at service flight training schools only half a dozen. . New types of training machine arp being adopted, and throughout training, in respect of the type's used and the system of tuition, regard is given to the highperformance flying demanded by the improved types now being delivered to the R.A.F. Among the training types arc fast cabin monoplanes, notably the “Nighthawk.” Great Britain now has nearly 6000 service pilots, including the reserve and auxiliaries. In addition, there are more than 5000 holders of civil flying licenses, a large proportion of whom are capable of being trained for active service.