The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-12-16
EXPERTS MDORSE
CITY REGULATION
OF AERO TRAFFIC
Municipality Must Act In
til Federal Code Is Adopt
ed, They Say.
IAGUARDIA SUPPORTED
International Convention
Rules Should Be Basis
of System.
WOULD BAR F00LHARDY
'Stunting' Over City and Hop
ping Over Skyscrapers Meet
General DisapprOval.
WOULD BAR FO0LHARDY

The ordinance regulating the conduct
and height Of airplanes IN flying over
New York city. which F. II. LaGuardia'
President Of the Board OF Aldermen, mas
announced he will introduce in the board
was the cause of considerable approval
among the pilots, engineers. manufao-
turers and others interested in aviation.
Most of the aeronautical men agreed
with Mr.. LaGuardia who was formerly
In the air service himself, that regula'
lions are needed to prevent pilots from
ytunting over the city or hedge hop
ping" over the skyscrapers. AT the same
time. however. they believed it better for
aviation to have uniform system OF
regulations drawn by the Federal Gov
eminent and conforming with those or
other nations. There is apparently lit
tie or no opposition to Major LaGuardia's
plan provided tina 1.-THE ordinance n or
a temporary nature, so designed that
action by the Federal Government for
the whole country would supplant it.
Maurice Cleary, directing governor of
the Aero Club Of America, said:
The basis for aerial regulations in the
United States should be the Interna-
tionai Aerial Convention. which grew
out Of the Peace Conference in Paris, and
which has been written into national
law in most of the European nations.
The Aero Club OF America has endeav-
ored to eXehcise n degree or supervision
through civilian licensing. but 1t recog-
nizes the necessity for Federal legisla-
ito (which will make possible aerial
intercourse with foreign countries. Aerial
traffic is too big to be regulated by a
r,unicpaIity or a STAGE II is a national
problem.
The failure of Congress to provide
such regulation literally compels New
York. 10 act Il will be the privilege or
tho nero Club and individual hiers to
work with Major La Guardia In prcpar-
ing code which we trust will be tempo
rary and local in it's nature"
similar views wer expressed by Il. 3.
Fetgchler. vlce--president and general
manager Of the Wright Aeronautical
COMPANY. manufactures Of Wright
motors. and A. F. Looming, formerly
Major in the air service, OF the Looming
Eungineering Company. Mr.. RentschIer
said American laws should conform 10
those OF other nations so tina American
machines be not cut off from the rest OF
the world Mr.. Looming said: mink
that g 900 feet would be sufficient altl-
tuds for flying boat over Manhattan
From, this height a plane with disabled
r,otor could glide about $4,000 feet
which would be enough 10 bring It to the
rndson or East rivers. Over other DOR
,1nehs the height should be greater. for
water is not so near. Enforcement wouId
he difficult unless n Federal code ana
nut into effect Stunt flying should be
Federal licensing and numbering were
prohibited absolutely.
&. Roy Keys. assistant 10 the presi-
dent of the Curtiss Aeroplane and Moor
Company. said that his company en-
forced strict flying rules among It's pilots
who flew over the city. as did the Post
office Department, which uses Curtiss
vrieId Garden City Constructive action
nv New York recognizing the principle
of Federal control will help, he said.
.ryyriters OF aircraft insurance cannot
develop this new field until there is
proper control Of flying by the Uni'ed
states Government" Edmund Ely. presi-
dent of the National Aircraft Under
writer's Association, said our asso-
cation urges the immediate adoption of
a Federal aerial code. and any ordinance
IN New York should be so framed as 20
further Federal legislation"
Congress only can properly regulate
air traffic, according 10 statement is-
sued yesterday b. tho Manufacturers
Aircraft Association.
"But the fact that regulation is need
cd invites sympathetic consideration for
local efforts" IL IL stated. Where mu-
ricipal ordinances have been enacted OF.
Grafton has been limited TO such period
as may intervene until Congress acts
and In many instances Congress has
hoen mamorializezd to provide legiala-
rion which shall supersede local efforts.
vew York city may have opportunity to
urovidc temporary or local regulation.
predicated upon Federal control, and
inns guide and hasten action in wash
fngton."