The Cordova daily times., 1919-02-06
FOG AND STORM WEATHERED
 BY AIRPLANES

regulating commercial traffic in the air, and within the next five years 1t should be as easy and as safe to pilot an airplane through fog and storm as it is to pilot ship, asserted Lord Weir, secretary of state for air forces, before 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 metero- logical service especially designed to help air transport.
 The adoption of improved systems of wireless telegraphy and telephony.
 The adoption of a 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 pas sengers; which will climb to height of 10000 feet, and which will travel 1900 miles without 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 kite balloon anchored in clear air, he will be able to land with safety in an air drome completely fog-bound.i
 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 mo- nopoly. Cooperation between the state and individuals, he believed, would bring the best results. The state would of necessity be the pio- necr, and from the present air minis try would spring an air department of the government which not only would control the administration of the Royal air forces, the fighting air branch of the British army and navy, but would act as the supreme author ity for the development of civil avia- tion.
 "The first step of the new ministry would be the organization of interna tional flying-that is, flying among the different countries. This would in volve an international aircraft con- vention.
 Already we have drafted the arti- cles 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. l have reason to anticipate that within the next four or five months the princi- pal 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 anticipate that within few weeks of the opening of the new parliament a useful act will come into force. Until this convention and this domestic legislation become oper- ative there can be no private flying at all, either international or in this country. It would be unfortunate if the development of civil aviation were retarded owing to the effects of series of fatal accidents due to the lack of absolutely necessary regula- tions.
 'The state should require in per manence large proportion of the ex- isting military airdromes, and should render them available for general use by leasing sheds to private opera tioral companies, and merely charging a fee for landing.
 "The department should undertake the training of all pilots to be en- ployed on public transport service and map out and light the aerial routes. The department should be ready to undertake mail, freight and passenger services when private en- terprise may be found lacking.
 From the superabundance of ma chimes at it's disposal upon the con clusion of peace, and suitable to con- version for commercial use. the state should be ready to dispose of con- siderable number at low price to private operating companies"
 Lord Weir frankly admitted the scheme would cost q lot nf ynonav ac,