Training of Pilots.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXIV, Issue 934, 2 December 1933, Page 10

Training of Pilots.

Dear Sir, —Allow me, as the member of the committee referred to by Mr J. C. Mercer in connection with the cloud-flying incident between Wellington and Palmerston North last year, to tell the real facts. Two club planes, one piloted by Mr Mercer and the other piloted by myself, left Wellington after lunch bound for New Plymouth, via Palmerston North. Conditions to the north appeared to be cloudy. My instructions were to follow Mr Mercer. This I did, flying slightly higher than he was, dnd about 200 yards to his rear. After a time we encountered cloud, and through being slightly higher than the leading plane, I got into misty cloud. I CQntinued there for about five minutes, when I again came out into clear air. There was no sign of the other plane. I circled for some minutes hoping *to pick it up, and half expecting it to turn back when Mr Mercer noticed my absence. Neither of these eventqating, I set out for Palmerston North and arrived there, as Mr Mercer at the time said, “a few minutes” after him. Mr Mercer now says there was a difference of half an hour. Mr Mercer did not at that time, or at any time since, make any complaint regarding my having been “ lost.” _ M I emphatically deny his statement that for some reason he thought he would go on the other side of the clouds and pick me up beyond. *’ I was not lost in any sense of the word, and fail understand the reason for Mr Mercer’s statement that I was lost for half an hour.” My remarks at the meeting of the committee at Ashburton on Tuesday evening did not refer to any laxity in the training of pilots of the club. My object was to have impressed on pilots, even more forcibly that? is at present done, the urgent necessitv for avoiding flying into clouds, this as an addition to the general instructions issued by the instructor. lam sure no member of the committee had any thought of suggesting laxity in the present system of training. My remarks were directed at enlarging the scope of training. —I am, etc., K. R. JOHNSTON. Ashburton.