PLANE DISASTERS WORRY AMERICA

Chronicle (Levin), 24 February 1947, Page 8

PLANE DISASTERS WORRY AMERICA

A Congressippal • investigatipn Intp what was called "the inexcusable killin g pf American pepple in air crashes," was prpppsed in the Heuse of Represeptatives, says a Sydney Sun special from Washing-' ton. "The American people are horriied and scared to death," declared Representative Mendel Rivers (Democrat, South Carolina), proooser of the investigation. He added: "If there's something wrong with the whole doggone set-up, :hen somethipg should be done." He referred t'O the increasing iiumber of crashes both on domestic and oyerse.as ser,ipes rcn by American airiines in recent months, including the disaster-, when 18 lives .were lpst in a crash near Qalax, Virginia. Officials at La Guar^ia Field, New York, say plane reservations, Which were almost impossible, to obtuin last summer, have been going begging in repept days. Many planes are leaving with empty ^eate, and others are only parcly fliled. All major airiines admit a slump in the last few months, but none is prepared to say definitely whether crashes arc a factor in the decline. They also admit reduction of seryices, and curtailment of staff. In the interests of air safety, Britain's three big airiines — Over--leas, European and South American — rhgVe formed a npn-profit-making company known as International Aeradio, Ltd., under the chairpianship of Mr. Whitney Straight. The new company will instal and operate telccommunications and radio and radar aids to navigation throughout the world.