The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1921-12-17

the Manufacturers Aircraft associa-
ton. This report is based on the most
Trustworthy information obtainable,
and a conservative estimate places the
mileage flown by these commercial
machines In the first six months OF
the present year at 325O,OOO miles,
and in that period there were forty
serious accidents in civil dying, the
computation not including accidents
20 gOverument-owned machines, re-
sulting in The death of fourteen per-
sons and more or less serious injury
to fifty-two others, In eighteen Of the
accidents there were no casualties, the
fourteen deaths being charged to ten
accidents ana the tifty-two injuries to
forty accidents.
The report as made public by the In
formation Group OF the United states
Army Air Service enumerates the re-
Quistes for safe flying as six In num-
Der. They are:
/. A machine sound aerodynamlcaily
and structurally.
2. An engine of sufficient power.
3, A competent, conservative pilot
and navlgi n.
4. Air ports and emergency landing
fields sufficiently close together to in
sure gliding to safety.
8. Nationwide weather forecasts spe-
ciallzed and adapted to the needs Of
fliers.
@, National air-route charts.
T. Licensing Of Pilots.
Each of the forty accidents" says
the report, "was caused by deficiency
In one or more of the above elements.
Seventeen were attributed to the pilot,
perhaps through carelessness, perhaps
incompetence, perhaps bad judgment,
combined with other factors. There Is
no doubt that a good pilot can guide
poor machine to safety with greater
chance Of success than a poor pilot
can operate a first-class machine.
Therefore, at the very top of the list
of government needs is placed the ex-
animation and licensing of pilots.
During the war more than 1900
young men were trained to fly. Ten
accidents of those given are attributed
to inadequate landing fields or to the
total lack of landing facilities. During
the war the army and the navy ac-
quired many terminals, most Of which
have since been abandoned. THE
fragmentary remainder has been slight
" added to by the air mail, municipal.
tiles and private enterprise, but the
United States is today wOefully lack
ing in air ports for even the 1900
craft in operation.
"While only two accidents are attrib
uted to the lack of weather reports and
two to the lack Of clearly defined
routes or limitations in travelling be-
tween or over cities, 1t Is certain that
aerial transport cannot develop until
these factors are met.
Equal in Importance with learning
the qualifications of pilot and naviga-
tor is inspection Of aircraft and en-
gines. Out of the forty accidents,
eleven may be attributed to faults
which proper inspection would have re-
vealed-three concerning the plane, six
the engine and two an accessory. In
many Instances II is found that the en-
CINE is blamed when really it is an &C.
cessory that is at fault.
Eight Accidents During stuntina.
Eight of the forty accidents occurred
during stunning. In these eight
accidents seven persons were killed
and twenty-six injured-exactly 80 per
cent of the total. In other words,
stunt flying In unrestricted areas was
responsible for as many casualties as
all other elements combined. While
stunt flying Is necessary to testing and
essential to warfare-and II is be-
lieved advisable that all pilots know
how to stunt. so that In case Of an
emergency, when only a stunt will
save their craft, they will be able to
act quickly, with understanding and
without fear--the habit of stunning for
thrill Is dangerous, fatal In many in
stances and always harmful to civil
fiyinga A governmental system of con.
troll limiting stunning to certain areas
will meet this unfortunate menace to
aeronautics.
"Two accidents were reported
through carelessness on the field. In
one notable instance the pinot, In order
to avoid the crowd which surged out
In front of his machine as he was
taking OFF, deliberately wrecked his
craft. It is observed that at every
flying demonstration, even at locally
poIiced fields, the spectators ignore
warnings and must be forced to keep
back. Only federal rules, rigidly en-
forced, win meet this situation.
"Finally, Ave accidents are attribut.
ed 10 unknown causes The hope Of
preventing accidents depends on learn
lng-then cOrrecting-the cause Of
each. 1t is evident government au-
thority is required to obtain informa'
lion IN such cases"