SAFETY IN THE AIR

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 152, 24 December 1929, Page 9

SAFETY IN THE AIR

DECREASE IN ACCIDENTS

PARACHUTE AND SLOTTED WING-

British Official Wireless.

ItTJGBY, 21st December. A striking decrease in. the number of accidents to Eoyal Air Forco aircraft has resulted from a standardisation on all British service machines of tho Handley-Pago slotted wing safety device and other safety measures. Although considerably moro flying has been done by Eoyal Air Force machines in 1929 than in any previous year, tho number of accidents dropped by nearly half as compared with last year, and the number of killed has diminished by approximately onethird. In 1926 there were 54 accidents and 85 deaths. In 1927 the deaths were 54 and the accidents 37. In 1928 there were 50 accidents and 70 deaths, and last year the number of accidents had fallen to 31 and deaths to 42.

Parachutes with which all service airmen are now equipped were directly responsible during tho year for the saving of 1G lives. A decrease in the number of accidents and fatalities has occurred during a period when there had been an increase in the number of squadrons from 61 in 192(5 to 75, as well as an increase in tho speed of machines.

Apart from safety devices, it is thought that one explanation of the improvement may l>e tho fact that pilots now are trained molo slowly and carefully, and are led to regard flying as part of a definite profession, rather than as an amusing sport. They are consequently loss inclined to take unnecessary risks, and have ceased to admire the recklessness of some of the war-time pilots.