AIRMEN'S SALARIES

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 157, 28 March 1919, Page 7

AIRMEN'S SALARIES

(By Clarence Winchester in the "Daily. Mail,") "I will pay you two pounds a week, and, of cSourse, you will no doubt pick up some presents from tho pupils." This remark might have been made to one ol' the lesser lights among tho notoriously ill-paid schoolmasters of this Country, but, as a matter of fact, it was an offer matfo to mo several years ago by the director of an aviation company. For tho magnificent sum of ■£;! weekly I was oxpectod to train airmen (and possibly airwomen) in machines which no sane pilot of to-day would look at let-alone fly in.

From the Royal Flying Corps Club, the Royal Aero Club, the various aerodromes, it is evident. that the question, of wages is of great concern to every air pilot who intends to continue to fly after general demobilisation. Aviation before tho war, might be likened to the theatre so far as salaries were concerned —there were a few "6tars" who could command fancy prices for exhibition flying, but the average airman was not wallowing in wealth, as was popularly supposed. Ho usually struggled along on verv little moneyilying, in fact, for flying's sake. . By the majority of peace-time pilots ,£lO a week is considered a very fair salary, in view of tho fact that the modern aeroplane is safe and reasonably comfortable. There are some thousands of experienced pilots in England alone. If fancy wages are to lie paid to a few, the others will suffer. A'minimum of ,£lO a week, with exceptional pay for exceptional work - , might well become established. Most pilots sinco 191G have learned their trade at the Government's expense. Therefore they have not to thing of "getting back their fees," as ill so many other professions and businesses. . By some company directors X's a week has been suggested as a pilot's pay, but in view of the cost of living there are few qualified men who would accept that sum. While everything must be done to ensure 11 fair reward to efficient men "superior" pilots must not expect "star" music-hall salaries if commercial aeronnutics is to be a success.