AERO CLUBS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19339, 1 June 1937, Page 13

AERO CLUBS

GOVERNMENT POLICY TRAINING OF PILOTS CIVIL RESERVE (Per Tress Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. The Government’s policy in relation to aero club organisations in New Zealand was outlined by the Minister of Defence, the Hon. F. .Tones, in a press statement to-day. The Minister stated that the clubs were being asked to assist in the preliminary training of candidates for the Air Force and also in a scheme to provide a civil reserve of pilots. There was no intention on the part, of the Government to interfere with Ihe activities of the clubs, but there would be a supervision of t lie training methods ami the standards reached. “Since their inception in 1929 and 19."0 the aero clubs in New Zealand have rendered valuable service to aviation by providing Hying training thoughout the Dominion, and the Government is anxious that the best use should continue to lie made of the facilities which have been built up,’’ said Mr. Jones. “It will be remembered that in .1929 the Government of the day agreed to pay £2n for each pilot trained to tiie A license standard, with a limit of £f>oo to each cluli. With some modifications this scheme has remained in force for the past seven years, during which period 532 pilots have been trained to the A license standard.

“In addition io this payment HO Government aircraft have been issued on loan to the club during this period to assist them in their training, and this has been an important, factor in reducing the cost, of instruction. Basis of Proposals

“The Government recently decided that the nature of the trailing to be given and the manner in which payment should In' made required investigation. As a result of a full inquiry certain general conclusions emerged, of which tho, following are the more important since they form the basis of the new proposals:— “Firstly, the A license, which has been the standard for the subsidy in tho past, is too low to bo of much practical value. Individuals who obtain these licenses are often precluded by the cost of further training from continuing with their flying until they reach a more advanced stage. The high cost of dual instruction also reduces the amount given, which has sometimes fallen below that normally considered desirable in the interests of safety.

“Secondly, although by subsidising clubs the State has assisted individuals to obtain their licenses, it did not ask them for any form of service in return, nor did it insist on such a high medical standard as is required for service or commercial flying. “Thirdly, the majority of the clubs were running at a loss, and many-were on the verge of exhausting their resources. Recasting of Scheme “In these circumstances, a recasting of the scheme seemed desirable. The first point to lie considered was the necessity for continuing to encourage the "full number of approved clubs, of which there are now 11 distributed throughout the Dominion. The traning which the Government desires to make available could be given at a central school, but any scheme of this nature would limit such training to those living in the vicinity or to tlioso who could afford the necessary time and inonev to reach the central point, and this fact alone would reduce its value. . , , , , “ Furthermore, certain oi the clubs are .located in regions where their presence, and facilities which they provide, may have a defence value in times of emergency. It has, therefore, been decided to contiuuo for the present to assist the full number of clubs, provided that; they reach the required standard of efficiency; but this decision will be, reviewed in the light of the experience gained during the next 12 months. Nature of Assistance “It. is intended to ask certain selected clubs to provide the initial training for those candidates for the Royal Air force and I’oval New Zealand Air Force who later wilt puss on to YVigram for their service training. The total number which these clubs will be asked to train will be 50 a year. Civil Reserve of Pilots “In addition, it is proposed to institute ~ lu >vv organisation to be, known as a Civil Reserve of Pilots, which will be open to applicants who reach the required standards of education and physical fitness, and who express their willingness to serve in the R.N.Z.A.I'. if called upon to do so m an emergency. In return from this undertaking, the State will pav for their initial flying instruction, which has boon fixed at 40 hours and for two refresher courses ot 10 hours each to he given in the two succeeding years. The Civil Reserve also will he open to pilots who already have received the necessary amount of preliminary training, hut who for any reason ’cannot join the Territorial Air Force or the Air Force. Reserve. To he eligible for free training applicants must be between the ages of 174 and years, whilst the upper age limit, of the reserve has been fixed at 38. The numbers to lie trained will Tie limited to 100 each year. . “It is hoped by this means to build up a reserve of" pilots who, although they have only flown light aircraft, nevertheless have received sufficient instruction to prepare them for training on higher-powered service or civil types should the need arise. It is impossible, owing to the cost involved, to continue the training beyond a total of 60 hours, hut it is hoped’that the individuals who are selected will do their utmost to master the'various problems which arise in flying and which will form the sub. jert "of instruction both in the air and on the ground. Supervision of Scheme “The general supervision of the scheme will he undertaken by Squadron-Leader L. M. lsitt, R..N.Z.A.F., assisted by Flight-Lieutenant 11. B. Burrell, who will co-ordinalc the methods of training and test all pilots who are being trained under the scheme, to ensure that they reach a satisfactory standard. As a first measure towards securing greater uniformity of instructional methods two courses for aero duh instructors have been held at Wigrani, at which tho latest methods of instruction have been demonstrated and opportunities given for practice in Hying by instruments. Future of Club Flying “The future of private and club flying in tho Dominion must largely depend on a. reduction in its cost, and it is hoped that during the period of the