TRAINING THE PILOTS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 3, Issue 297, 23 April 1941, Page 6

TRAINING THE PILOTS

HOW RISKS ARE REDUCED

V\ ar ilj'ing is a risky business, just as till Avar action is risky; but while the training of future pilots, observers and gunners for the R.N.Z.A.F. must be conditioned by tlie realities of cojnbat flying, every eare is taken to eliminate jrisk in training. The Hon. Adam Hamilton, a member of the War Cabinet, said: "It is better to have men jvell trained here than to send out ill-trained men to almost certain death at the (ront." Airmen must be fitted for the ordeal of war. How is the R-N.Z.A.F. reducing to a minimum the inevitable risks of war training? It must use machines completely airworthy, its instructors must be competent, and there must be a constant watch on the human element to see that it does not bccome stale through overwork or lack of confidence, either in aircraft or the instructors (says Charles E. Wheeler). These are the ideals —docs it achieve them? I have talked about these points with all classes of people to be found in the air stations—padres, Y.M.C.A. officers, the instructors, trainees, medical officers and the O.C.'s of the stations. This has been an informal process carried out during visits to the stations, "living the life," privileged to go everywhere, chatting with all ranks about their -work and their outlook on Air Force service. Signs of Strain Watched. What is being done to avoid overstrain? "Browning off" is the Air Force' term for a condition constantly in the minds of responsible officers. This refers particularly 1o flying personnel, and means that a man is becoming nervy, easily irritated. possibly tired out mentally or physically, or even in some cases suffering from a sense of being "put upon." The business of discovering and acting on these symptoms, is delicately, and discreetly managed in all the stations. One might almost call it a benevolent conspiracy on the part of everyone to watch for the signs, and protect one's friends from the consequences of "browning off" if the signals of warning are neglected. In a score of ways the symptoms of strain become evident to the experienced observer. Medical officers on the -stations are very accessible to all ranks, and explicit instructions are given all flying officers and instructions that if a trainee is not a hundred' per cent fit—if he is but 99 per cent fit —he must report to the medical officer at once. When the patient belongs to the flying personnel, the medical officer regards even a headache as something more than a matter for routine concern. In a private interview he finds out whether the appetite is normal and the trainee is getting adequate sleep, and so the story generally unfolds—the young fellow might be worrying. His medical adviser discovers the reason, and this might lead to consideration of someone else as a possible case of "browning off." Airmen are encouraged to interview their medical officer at any time, not waiting for the morning sick parade Avhieh is the familiar thing at every military establishment. Every Pupil Studied. In advanced flying, the instructor has his own roster of pupils to whom he becomes Avell known. [ found in many conversations with the flying officers that they regard each pupil as an individual problem for careful study. Temperaments differ. One pupil may require to be told in emphatic language what he must do during flights, but another does better under more gentle guidance. Risky Flying Discouraged. Risky flying is discouraged by all the means Avhieh regulations and lecturing can devise. A pilot undertaking a cross-country flight is instructed that if unusual conditions are encountered he must turn back, or if completely "closed in" lie must make for the nearest aerodrome. This warning appears on the form handed to tlie authorising tlie flight. A summary of the most vital regulations relating to safety of personnel and aircraft appears in the pilot's order book One rule emphatically prohibits low flying. It will not be tolerated, it says, and steps haA'e been taken to secure the co-operation of the public in reporting breaches of the regulation. There might be occasion:'

(Continued in next column).

when the pilot finds it necessary to fly low, but lie must enter that fact in his log, and give the reason. Contrast the flying mileage of New Zealand's training aircraft with the number ol' l'atal accidents, and it is found that for each eras]) the distance llown equals twenty times round the earth. Can motoring in New Zealand equal Uiis good reeo-vd 2