Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-01-29
FUTURE OF AIR
TRAVEL BRIGHT
Brftisher Says Five Years VIII
Witness Wonderful Develop
ment In Aeronautics.

Manchester, Eng.-(Correspond-
ence Of the Associated Press)-
Within the next six months the
allies 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 airplane through
fog and storm as 1t Is to pilot ship,
asserted Lord Weir, secretary Of
state for air forces, before an audi
ence here the other day. In order
that ambitious projects now being
discussed might be entirely sue
cessful, he said, these things were
necessary:
Development Of navigational in
struction by really sound and Sc
we're navigational training.
Creation of an energetic meteoro-
logical service especially designed
to help air transport
The adoption of improved sys-
TENS OF wireless telegraphy and
telephony.
The adoption of first class sys-
landing places and airdromes.
I'VE now possess in substantial
numbers, either delivered or in
course of construction, airplanes
which will carry a crew Of seven
and thirty passengers; which will
climb to a height of 10000 feet,
and which will travel 1900 miles
without a stop" said Lord Weir.
"One type can come down at sea,
float on the waves and rise again
with full load.
I'VE have machines that can land
safely at definitely gliding angles
entirely without human control.
I This means that when the pilot can
set his instruments by means OF a
kite balloon anchored in clear air,
he will be able to land with safety
in an airdrome completely fog
bound"
Lord Weir made It very plain that
he did not think the best ends Of
civilization would be served by
keeping civil aviation for a gov
eminent monopoly. Cooperation
between the state and individuals,
he believed, would bring the best
results. The state would of ne
cessity be the pioneer, and from
the present air ministry would
spring an air department in the
government which would not only
control the administration of the
Royal air forces. the fighting air
branch of the British army and
navy, but would act as the supreme
authority for the development of
civil aviation.
THE first step OF the new min
istry would be the organization Of
interna Lional flying, that is flying
among the different countries. This
would involve an international air
craft convention.
I'VE have already drafted the ar
ticIes of this convention, and they
are now being submitted to our al
lies" continued Lord Weir. eff
they substantially approve it, an
international air conference will
be held. 1 have reason to antici-
pate that within the next four or
five months the principal nations
of the world will have reached
agreement on this momentous mat
ter.
Similarly domestic legislation
will have to be enacted to govern
flying in this country. The bill
has been prepared, and I anticipate
that within a few weeks of the
opening OF the new parliament a
useful act will come into force
Until this convention and this do
nestle legislation becomes opera
tive, there can be no private 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