FLYING ACCIDENTS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 6, Issue 56, 16 March 1943, Page 6

FLYING ACCIDENTS

COMMODORE'S STATEMENT SAFETY MEASURES ADOPTED At a press conference 1 in the Air Department, Wellington, recently, the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Commodore R. V. Goddarol, C.8.E... scribed the. measures adopted in the Royal New Zealand Air Force not only for the prevention of flying accidents but also for their investigation 'and analysis. He described also the technical and disciplinary action taken to counteract, the inherent dangers of flying. In making a general statement on the subject. Aiir Commodore Goddard said:— "I know that there has been widespread concern at the increase in the number of flying accidents in New Zealand during the past months. I;t is hardly necessary for me to say that II have shared that concern, as, indeed, do all members of the Roj'a! New Zealand Air Force who have responsibilities for the efficiency of the. service. It is grievous enough for us all to face up to the casualties which occur in battle, but it iis even more grievous to see a mounting toll of fine men due to accidents here in their own country—accidents which ma3 r often seem to have been preventable. But I would ask you," said the Air Commodore, "not to form hasty judgments on this subject. The. rise in the total number of accidents during the past year does not. automatically imply either a rise l in risks of flying, nor does it indicate a fall in the efficiency of our flying or of our maintenance and supervision. Basic Flying' Organisation "Every New Zealander knows that, whereas a year ago the Royaflj New Zealand Air Force comprised chiefly a training organisation concerned with producing pilots up to an elementary stage of now, only one year later, our Air Force is of an entirely different 1 character. We still have the same basic flying training organisation, but Ave have, in addition, built up operations squadrons and operational training units, and have greatly extended the scope of our flying activities in and around New Zealand. "Flying must still be regarded as a hazardous occupation. Certain factors tend to make it more haz-< ardous in time of war quite clear that the rate of flying casualties in New Zealand compares favourably with flying accident rates elsewhere, and that the efficiency of our proficiency of our instructional and supervisory staffs are probably not excelled by any other belligerent "Power. In the period of emergency we have been going through in the past year, revolutionary changes have, been made in the compose tion and duties of the Royal New Zealand Air Force. . These changes have necessarily been accompanied by many difficulties and new circumstances. We have been under heavy pressure to achieve the impossible, and have come near to achieving it.' 5 On the question of whether the type of aircraft employed in the R.N.Z.A.F. are considered satisfactory from the point of view of safety. Air Commodore Goddard said that the tj-pes of aircraft here are the same as those used throughout the United Nations for training and operations. British and Amevn can training and operational types of aircraft have similar characteristics of safety. "But," the Chief of Staff said, "other things being equal, high speed aircraft are liable to be more dangerous than the slower training tj'pes with which the R.N.Z.A.F. was equipped a year ago. The danger does not arise, how - ever, from technical defects; it arises solely from the necessity for quicker judgment, for greater space, and for longer visibility. Since we cannot change human nature, nor the weather conditions, Ave have to lace up to the risk in producing allalb?,r airmen capable of operating b:g>i performance aircraft in battle. Even under the most rigid supervision, the accident rate due to low

visibility, collision or navigational uncertainty is liable to [increase with increased speed." The Air Commodore said he. had no wish to minimise the gravity of flying accidents, but he thought that the matter had become over-magni-fied. '"The general public cannot be aware, but I think it. right that they should know, that the Royal New Zeafland Air Force; here and in the 1 f islands: has, during the past year, flown over one million miles for every fatal accident. In other words, we fly a distance equivalent to spanning the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans from New Zealand to. England 90' times for one fatal accident. Can anone regard that record as an indication of inefficiency?"