MORE TRAINING FOR PILOTS

Southland Times, Issue 23407, 14 January 1938, Page 12

MORE TRAINING FOR PILOTS

MAKING FIRST-CLASS NAVIGATORS ADVANCED SCHOOL AT CROYDON LONDON, December 18. With the possibility of a regular Atlantic air service soon, as well as the extention of its Empire mail routes, Imperial Airways inaugurated at Croydon an advanced school for experienced pilots who have been chosen to qualify for higher certificates and licences. A trainee school has been, in existence for some time, so that now a complete organization exists for advancing pilots to the rank of first-class navigators. The school does not teach officers to fly. No pilot is engaged by the company until he has had long flying experience. Almost all hold the B licence for commercial pilots before they join the company, and many have served commissions with the Royal Air Force. After entering the company’s service they study in the trainee school for the second-class navigator’s licence, and later gain practical experience as junior officers in air liners on various routes. During these voyages they have to take observations and work out problems that have been set, and they present the results of this “home-work" to their instructors on returning to the school.

Later stages in the training include study for ground engineers and radio operators’ The ground engineers’ course is very comprehensive. The men begin by studying in the school, and later spend periods at aircraft construction, engine, propeller and instrument factories. They also work shifts in the hangars with the normal ground staffs servicing machines. The highest course of all is for officers of long experience who are selected to study for the first-class navigators’ licence. This is necessary for an officer on the flying staff of an air company commanding a passenger-carrying aircraft plying over more than 600 miles of water. The course includes higher mathematics, nautical astronomy, compass work, dead reckoning navigation, international law and convention and signalling. Before undertaking the course pilots undergo a psychological examination to test their fitness for the responsibilities involved. The company has at present 14 first-class navigators. Four New Zealanders are at an intermediate stage of training. All hold the second-class navigator’s licence, and are now on the point of completing, or in the course of study for, the ground engineer’s licence. First Officer C. C. Byar, who gained a pilot’s licence while still a pupil at the Otago Boys’ High School, served a short-service commission in the Royal Air Force before joining the company. He is a flying-boat pilot, and will shortly go on to one of the Empire air routes. First Officer H. L. M. Glover, who was educated in Wellington and at the Auckland University College, attained the rank of flight lieutenant in the Royal Air Force before joining the company. He now has 1700 hours’ flying experience. First Officer W. J. Craig, who was at the Wanganui Technical College, was the first pupil of the Wanganui

Aero Club to qualify both in practical and theoretical tests for the Royal Air Force examination. He attained the rank of flight lieutenant in the Royal Air Force, serving for three years in India. His service with the company has brought his flying experience up to 1000 hours. The fourth of the group is First Officer C. Griffiths, who was a pupil at the New Plymouth High School. He served with the Royal Air Force and the fleet air arm before entering the company’s employ. 'He also has 1000 hours’ flying experience. The most important New Zealander at the school, however, is Captain F. \ C. Allen, who occupies the position of chief flying instructor. He holds navigator’s, wireless operator’s - and ground engineer’s licences, and has already trained almost 100 of the company’s pilots. Captain Allen, who was bom in Wellington, served with the Royal Air Force in England, and was one of two Imperial Airways officers selected to gain experience with blind landing equipment in Germany.