AERO CLUB

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 446, 31 May 1937, Page 6

AERO CLUB

. GOVERNMENT POLICY . Training Of Pilots Press Association —Copyright. Wellington, May 31. The Government's policy in relation to aero club organisations in New Zealand was outlined by the Minister 3f Defence (the Hon. F. Jones) in a Press statement to-day. The Minister stated that the clubs were being asked to assist in the preliminary training of candidates for the Air Force anti: also in a scheme to provide a civil reserve of pilots. There was no indention on the’ part of the government to interfere with the activities of the clubs, but there would be a supervision: of the training methods and the standards reached.

I “Since their inception in 1929 andl 11930 the aero clubs in New Zealand have rendered valuable service to aviation by providing flying training through the Dominion, and the Government is anxious that the best use should continue to be made of the facilities which have been built up,” said Mr Jones. “It will be remember'd' that in 1929 the Government of the day agreed to pay a sum of -£25 for each pilot trained to the A licence staiylard, with a limit of £5OO to each club. With some modifications this scheme has remained in force Cor the past seven years, during which period 582 pilots have been brained to the A licence standard. In addition to this payment thiiny Government aircraft have been issued on loan to the clubs during this pi-rioC: to assist them in their (training, and this has been an important factor in reducing the cost -of instruction. “The Government recently decided that the nature of the training to be given and the manner in which payfnent should be made required investigation. As a result of a full inquiry certain general conclusions emerged, of which the following are the more important since they form the basis of the new proposals:— •‘Firstly, the A license, which has been the standard for the subsidy in «he pash, is too low to be of much practical value. Individuals w’ho obtain these licenses are often precluded by the cost) of further braining Crom continuing with their flying un. t:l they reach a more advanced stage. The high cost of dual instruction also reduces the amount given, which has sometimes fallen below that .normally considered desirable’ in the interests’ of safety.

“Secondly, although by subsidising clubs the State has assisted individuals to obtain their licences, it, did not ask them for any form of service in return, nor did: it insist on such a high medical standard as is required for service or commercial flying “Thirdly, the majority of the clubs were running at a lass, and many weie on the verge of exhausting their resources.

“In these circumstances, a recasting of the scheme seemed desirable. The first point to be considered was the necessity for continuing to encourage the full number of approved clubs, of which there are now eleven distributed throughout the Dominion. The training which the Government desires to make available could be given at a central school, but any scheme! of ibis' nature would: Him iff, such training to those living in the vicinity or to those who could afford the necessary time and money to reach the central point., and this fact alone would reduce its value. Furthermore, certain of the clubs are located in regions where their presence; and the facilities which they provide, may have a defence value in times of emergency. It has, therefore, been decided to continue for the present to assist the full number of clubs, provided that they reach the required standard of efficiency; but this decision will be reviewed in the light ot the experience gained during the next twelve months. Nature of Assistance, It is intended to ask certain selected clubs to provide the initial training for the candidates for the Royal Air Force and Royal New Zealand An- Force who will later pass on to V’g'ram tor their Service training! he total number which these clubs

■"ill be asked to train will be fifty a year. Civil Reserve o f Pilot®. In addition it is proposed to instiuto a new organisation to be known as a Civil Reserve of Pilots, which w ‘ll be open to applicants who reach the required standards of education < . Physical fitness, and who express then- willingness to serve in the R-N.Z.A.F. if called upon to do so In an emergency. In return for this undertaking, the State will pay for their 'mtial flying' instruction, which has been fixed at forty hours, and for two refresher courses of ten hours each to be given in the two succeeding years. The Civil Reserve will also be open to pilau wk* hdvd iiready

received the necessary amount of preliminary training, bnt who for any reason cannot join the Territorial Air Force or the Air Force Reserve. To be eligible for free training applii.a?its must be between the ages of ITi and: 25 Tears, whilst the uppsr age limit of the Reserve has been fixed at 38. The numbers to be trained will be limited to one hundred each year.

It is hoped by this means to build up a reserve of pilots who, although they have only flown light aircraft have, nevertheless, received sufficient instruction to prepare them for training on higher.powered service or civil types should the need arise.. It. is impossible, owing to the cost involved, to continue the training beyond a total of sixty hours, batt it is hoped that the individuals who are selected: will do their utmost to master the various problems which arise til flying and Which will form the subject of instruction both in the air and on the ground. .Supervision of Scheme. “The general supervision of the scheme will be undertaken by Squad-ront-Leader L. M. Isitt, RN.Z.A.F., assisted by Flight-Lieutenant H. B. Burrell, who will co-ordinate the methods of traininig and test all pilot, who are being trained under the scheme, to ensure that they reach a satisfactory standard As a first mea. sure towards securing greater Uniformity of instructional methods two courses for aero club instructors have been held: at Wigram, at which the latest methods of instruction have been demonstrated and opportunities given for practice in flying by instruments. Future of Club Flying. “The future of private and club flying in the Dominion must largely depend on a reduction in its costs, and it is hoped that during the period of the agreement, which will be for one year, all concerned will do their utmost in this direction. One of the chief factors in assessing the cost is the risk of accident to aircraft, which may involve at the worst its total loss, or, In many cases, dam. age to the extent of several hundreds of pounds. From an examination of the records of accidents, it is clear that a number were due to lack of experience, and, in some isolated casss, to unnecessarily low flying, which is a, breach of Air Navigation Regular lions. It is hoped that the scheme now proposed will lead to more thorough instruction, and will bring about a Stricter observance of the regulations.

“There is no intention of controlling the, activities of the aeor clubs, since much of their success lies in the enthusiasm and initiative*of their executives and members, but to the extent that the Government pays for the instruction of certain individuals it will supervise the methods adopted and l standards reached'. Apart from this the clubs will be free to carry On their full activities as in the past. Owing to the nature of the equipment used, flying instruction can never be very cheap, but it is hoped, nevertheless, that if full advantage is taken of types of aircraft now becom. ■ng available, an increasing number w ill be able to avail themselves of the. opportunities of learning to fly. “Full information regarding the Civil Reserve can be obtained from -he secretary of the nearest aero club, tn whom all applications for enrolment should be sent The final selection will, however, be made by the Air Department."