POSTPONEMENT OF NEW SAFETY MEASURE FOR AIRCRAFT SOUgHT

Wanganui Chronicle, 1 June 1948, Page 5

POSTPONEMENT OF NEW SAFETY MEASURE FOR AIRCRAFT SOUgHT

(N.Z. P. A. —Special— Copyright

Recd. 6.20 p.m. London, Mav 31. Britain is seeking to delay the introduction of the International Standards of Safety for Airliners. This disclosure was made by Lord Nathan at the opening of the conference of the Commonwealth Air Transport Council at which New Zealand is represented by Messrs. F. Shannahan, E. A. Gibson, S R. Meacham, and P. P. Heller. The International Civil Aviation Organisation has laid down basic standards of construction and performance and it has been agreed that all new machines must conform to them from 1951.

When the assembly of 1.C.A.0. meets in Geneva next month, Britain is to propose that the date of bringing the new safety regulations into force should be postponed. This move is forced upon the Government because most of the new passenger-carrying aircraft at present being built in this country do not comply with the new regulations which Britain has already agreed to as a member of 1.C.A.0.

Prelimiriary soundings suggest that France, who is struggling to rebuild her aircraft industry, will be the only certain supporter of Britain. America, whose new type airliners comply with I C.A.O. safety standards, will light th? postponement.