AIRMAN OF ALL WORK

Southland Times, Issue 23948, 14 October 1939, Page 11

AIRMAN OF ALL WORK

Wireless Operator's Job

DERHAPS the least acknowledged member of the com- ; mercial aeroplane’s crew is the wireless operator. Yet the safety of the passengers and crew rests as much upon his shoulders as it does on the chief pilot’s. This man is also perhaps the most highly trained member of the crew. In almost every instance , he is able to do the chief pilot’s or the navigator’s work besides his own of wireless operating. Upon him fall all the duties of preparation. If the aeroplane on which he is flying is scheduled to leave the airport at 9.00 hours he must be there at 8.00. This is assuming that he is on duty on one of the smaller aeroplanes which have a crew of one pilot and a wireless operator. Arriving at the airport an hour before the aeroplane’s departure, it is the wireless operator’s job to prepare the charts and maps for the flight. He must have an extensive knowledge of navigation, for he has to map the course of the aeroplane. The maps prepared and the aeroplane ready upon the tarmac, the pilot takes over. The wireless operator has checked his petrol load, and the freight has also been noted. If the aeroplane is going to a foreign country it is burdened with other things i than freight. The weight of the documents it has to carry is no mean load. | These are in charge of the wireless i operator, and include a certificate of airworthiness, a wireless authorization certificate, a daily certificate of flight safety, a certificate of insurance, a detailed load sheet, a weight distribution sheet, manifest listing all cargo on board with copies for transit and terminal Customs, which generally amount to about 150 to 200 sheets of paper, mail weigh bills showing the origin, weight, and destination of every bag. Weather Reports THE wireless operator has also to carry his passport and his certificates showing his proficiency in wire- | less operating. Each freight consignment must be accompanied by a consignment note in sextuplicate, supporting certified invoices, and a certificate of origin.

The pilot also must carry his passport and his certificates of proficiency, as must all members of the crew, excepting stewards and flight-clerks. When all these documents have been handed to the wireless operator, and checked by him, the aeroplane is ready to take off. Once off the ground and set on her course, the wireless operator establishes contact with the airport. Latest weather reports, which will affect the course over which they are travelling, are sent through from Croydon and noted by the wireless operator on a scribbling pad and passed to the pilot. At intervals the wireless operator calls Croydon and reports their progress. He must also keep the control station with which he is in communication informed of changes in height and visibility, and to obviate the risk of collision he must know the height, and so on, of other aircraft which he will pass during the flight. Takes Control IT is upon these flights that the operator puts in several hours of flying, for every wireless operator desires to be a pilot, and before he can realize his ambition he must have many hours of flying in his log. When the aeroplane is nearing an airport, or when circumstances demand it, the pilot takes over. Like the captain of a ship, he must always take off and land the aeroplane. The wireless operator then gets in touch with the approaching airport. He informs them of the estimated time I of arrival of the aircraft, so that arI rangements can be made for passengers, freight, and so on. The operator at the i airport acknowledges the message, and tells the operator in the aeroplane when the aerodrome is free for landing. All these messages between the aeroplane and the ground are transmitted once, in code form, using what is known as the “Q” code, in order to save time. The pilot, through the wireless operator, warns the airport they are coming in, and the airport operator warns other approaching aircraft of his intention. There is a strict rule of the air that the aeroplane at the lower altitude approaching an airport has always the right-of-way. Once landed, the wireless operator checks off the unloading or loading of freight, also the petrol load. This generally takes about 10 minutes, and the aeroplane is off again. Much the same happens on the next stage of the flight, the wireless operator taking over while the pilot writes his log.

On forges the aeroplane, stopping 10 minutes in one country, a quarter of an hour in another, until they reach their destination, perhaps well over a thousand miles from Croydon, where the aeroplane and crew must stay for the night. With his papers the wireless operator makes his way to the quarters provided for him bv his company. Yesterday he slept in England; today he sleeps in Switzerland. More Documents THE wireless operator is again early on the scene next morning, for everything has to be prepared for the return journey. The maps are scanned, weather reports are studied, and freight is checked and rechecked before the aeroplane is ready to leave. Everything attended to, the pilot takes charge. As with the outward flight, the wireless operator spends his time communicating with airports en route, and helping to fly the aeroplane. Stops are made for petrol, freight, and sometimes passengers. To all these the wireless operator must attend. If the latter are carried he must see that they carry their ticket, passport, and in some cases, perhaps, any certificates of inoculation or vaccination.

In fact, in the smaller air liners, the wireless operator combines the duties of flight-clerk, second-officer, and wireless operator. As evening approaches, the aeroplane is flying over England again, and once more the wireless operator is in touch

with Croydon alone, and the last stage of the flight is reached. 1 When the air is clear they are advised to land. The operator gathers his papers preparatory to the landing. The earphones are laid aside as the aeroplane rolls to a stop. Papers have to be handed to airport officials, and reports made out before the wireless operator leaves the airport. When these formalities are completed he makes for his home, always near the airport. He has been away two days, but he strolls down the road at the time when Mr Smith next door is returning from his city office. Mr Smith has been up and down to London twice during that time, and his neighbour—half way across Europe.