Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1919-01-29
-.- ti.. COMMERCIAL. AIR TRAFIC RULES
 NEEDED SOON

 should reach an agreement regulating commercial traffic in the air, and within the next five years it should be as easy and as safe to pilot an air plane through fog and storm as it is to pilot a ship, asserted Lord Weir, Secretary of State for Air Forces, be- fore an audience here the other day. In order that ambitious projects now being discussed might be entirely suc- cessful, he said, these things were necessary:
 Development of navigational in struction by really sound and severe navigational training.
 Creation of an energetic metereolo- gical service especially designed to help air transport.
 The adoption of improved systems of wireless telegraphy and telephony.
 The adoption of first class system of day and night marking of landing places and airdromes.
 "We now possess in substantial numbers, either delivered or in course of construction, airplanes which will carry crew of seven and thirty passengers; which will climb to a height of 10000 feet, and which will travel 1,20O miles without a stop," said Lord Weir. "One type can come down at sea, float on the waves and rise again with full load.
 "We have machines that can land safely at definitely gliding angles en- tirely without human control. This means that when the pilot can set his instruments by means of a kit balloon anchored in clear air, he will be able to land with safety in an airdrome completely fogbound."
 Favors Private Ownership.
 Lord Weir made it very plain that he did not think the best ends of civ- ilization would be served by keeping civil aviation for government mono- poly. Cooperation between the state and individuals, he believed, would bring the best results. The state would of necessity be the pioneer and from the present air ministry would spring an air department in the gov- ernment which would not only cen trol the administration of the Royal Air Forces, the fighting air branch of the British army and navy, but wuold act as the supreme authority for the development of civil aviation.
 "The first step of the new ministry would be the organization of inter- national flying, that is flying among the different countries. This would in- volve an international aircraft con- vention.
 We have already drafted the ar tlcles of this convention, and they are now being submitted to our Allies" continued Lord Weir, If they sub stantially approve it, an International Air Conference will be held. have reason to anticipate that within the next four or five months the prin- ctpAl nations of the world will have reached agreement on this momentous matter.
 Similarly domestic legislation Will have to be enacted to govern flying in this country. The bill has been prepared, and 1 anticipate that within a few weeks of the opening of the new parliament a useful act Will come into force. Until this con- vention and this domestic legislation becomes operative there can be no prl- vate flying at all either international or in this country. It would be unfor- tunate If the development of civil aviation were retarded owing to the effects of series of fatal accidents due to the lack of absolutely neces- sary regulations.
 Should Keep Airdromes.
 "The state should require in per- manence a large proportion of the existing military airdromes, and should render them available for gen. eral use by leading sheds to private operationa1 companies, and merely charging a fee for landing.
 "The department should undertake the training of all pilots to be em- ployed on public transport service and map out and light the aerial routes.