New-York tribune., 1919-03-15
Army to Help
Utilize PLANES
For Commerce
General MenoheF Outlines
Plans of Government
for Aerial Promotion
16 Flying Fields Needed
Provision of Adequate Sup
ply Of Pilots Is One
Problem To Be Solved

Major General Charles r. Mcnoher,
newly appointed Director of Air Ser
vice, U. S. army, outlined last night
the immediate problems facing the
War Department in the development
of aviation.
First of ALL" he declared, 1--WE shall
cooperate to every possible extent in
development of commercial aviation.
Our future in military aeronautics is
intimately bound up with commercial
aerial development"
The problems now confronting the
War Department, as outlined by the
general after his tour of inspection of
the Aeronautical Exposition at Madi-
son Square Garden, are as follows:
/. Establishment of an Academy of
Aviation similar to West Point or An
napolis.
2. Placing the air service on a peace
footing of about $4,000 men all ranks,
with about sixteen flying fields.
8. The question of turning over to
the National Guard of the various
states surplus aviation material to as
sist in training pilots, observers and
mechanics.
Aerial Survey Advised
4. Completion of an aerial photo
graphic survey of the United States,
and from this the compilation of an
aviation blue book similar to the auto
mobile blue book.
5. Formulation of aerial traffic rules
and regulations.
Regarding the first of these the gen
eral said: "The flying game is an odd
one, unlike all other army problems.
A man lasts but few years, and, in
fact, has practically lost his useful
ness as flyer after reaching the age
of thirty-that is, so far as the army is
concerned
Therefore, we are compelled to look
about for some means of replenishing
the supply of pilots. 1t has not yet
been definitely decided whether to
establish an academy similar to West
Point or to open school of applica-
tion fer technical students. The de-
partment is now studying out a plan
of cooperation with universities and
colleges to train reserve officer pilots
"Nothing definite has been decided
service, but I think it will be in the
neighborhood of $4,000 of all ranks
We shall retain a sufficient number
of planes adequately to take care of
the needs of this force
"H the legal status allows it, we may
turn over to the National Guard units
of the various states most of the sur
plus airplanes and other equipment.
This could then be used for training
military pilots who could be trans
ferred to the army in case Of war
Skeleton Squadrons Planned
"The present plan is to maintain in
the peace time units skeleton squad
rons- Certain of them will be more
or less complete for tactical purposes,
but the others will form a nucleus to
be filled in with reserve men in case
of war.
''The air service has been engaged
IN mapping the United States by means
of photographed survey. When com
pleted the data obtained will be placed
at the disposal of commercial aerial
transportation companies. In like
manner the army aviation fields will
be open to their use wherever it does
not interfere with. purely military
work
Commercial aviation is going to
come, but perhaps little more slowly
than most enthusiasts think. There is
SO much to do in providing proper
landing fields, licensing pilots and
making rules for navigation Of the
air.1