The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. WEDNESDAY, JULY 23 1930. AVIATION PROGRESS.

Hokitika Guardian, 23 July 1930, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. WEDNESDAY, JULY 23 1930. AVIATION PROGRESS.

The greatest factor in the success of aviation as a commercial enterprise is safety. Statistics issued by the U.S. Department of Commerce show that n total of 78,940,161 miles was flown in air transport and miscellaneous operations during the past year. This is an increase of some 25,000,000 miles as compared wi'tli the previous twejfte months. There were fifteen fatal accidents on regular air transport lines which gives one accident to each 1,002,077 miles flown. In 1928 there was one fatal accident for each 884,120 miles. In what is recorded as the miscellaneous class, there was last year one fatality for each 375,000 miles. The previous year’s ratio was one fatal accident to each 390,244 mile,s flown. Means for collecting data, in 1928 were not as complete as they are now, and it is felt that if all the accidents that happened in the year named had been officially reported, the record in the miscellaneous class in 1929 would be seen to bo quite as good as it was in 1928. Combining the two classes of flying, the statistics give evidence of constant care in the operation of all air transport lines, In the United Sfta.tes to-day—as tluye always \hns been in Canada, where aviation is making such .signal progress in all its branches —there is a disinclination to stunt flying, This disinclination ranks well with the leaders in aviation development. Figures issued from Ottawa show that activity in civil aviation in Canada almost doubled last year. The number of passengers carried increased from 15,932' in 1927, /to 74,669, in 1928, and to 124,751 in 1929. There are twenty-three light aeroplane clubs in the Dominion of Canada, authorized to receive assistance, from the Department of Rational Defence, in accordance with the p'an that gives to duly constituted flying clubs two light aeroplanes or hydroplanes, and, as the number of members increases, adds another plane each year for the first five years of a club’s existence. The number of members now totals 5,233, of whom 904 are taking flying instruction. Clubs, however, can only progress and nrosper if t.ic local nuiiiicionlities will help to provide facilities, such a,s aerodromes, seaplane stations, hangars etc. Canadian air mail service last year covered 490,640 mile and carried 430,635 pounds of air mail, as compared with 316,631 pounds handled in 1928. This air department is rendering important service to territories that un*

til recently have been isolated for many months of the year. Up- in the Northwest, right into the Arctic Circle, mail is now delivered regularly all winter, which is a boon ■to the scattered residents, and is likely to have an effect on settlement. This air mail delivery ns public service of incalculable value and the large sums being spent in this direction will bring returns. As regards private flight, the Hying clubs, which are increasing in number in all parts of the country, last year rolled up approximately 1,500,000 miles of flying in the 17,000 hours their machines spent in .the air. The total mileage on all civil aircraft readied 4,083,021, an astonishing figure that was nearly three times n,y much as the record of 1928. The licensed aircraft almost doubled in number, there being 475 at the end of 1929, while the number of qualified and licensed pilots wa,s 349; pilot air engineers totalled 96 and air engineers only numbered 212. The total licensed personnel is 657 and there arc 150 unlicensed air mechanics. These figures all represent large increases compared with the 1928 record and the indications are that there will he even greater growth tills year. Air transportation of passengers and freight, (lying as a sport or a vocation, and aeronautical engineering generally, have come to stay, and progress in the art of flight may he expected to advance surelv from now on.