Evening journal., 1923-02-07
AVIATION As AN
NDUSTRIAL FACTOR
By JOHN J. RASKOB
Vice-President E. l. DUPONT de Nemours Co.
Vice-President General Motors Corporation


Beyond question It is high time
that the business men OF this coun
try awakened TO the tremendous ad
vantages which air navigation pre-
sents in the Industrial life Of tho
nation. The innumerabla activities
to which aircraft lend themselves
with thorough going economy 20
materially influence all the indus
tries Of the country that in self
defense the business man must in
vestigate the aeronautic situation as
II affects his own individual business
concern, particularly in respect 10
the broad problems OF transporta-
ton and communication. the divi-
dend-paying factors in everyday
commercial life.
Before enumerating some OF the
economical uses Of aviation. let us
consider the present status of air
navigation in the United States.
Manufacturers engaged in produc-
ing aircraft and their accessories are
endeavoring to continue production,
basing their com mercial existence on
the few orders emanating from the
Army and Navy Air Services. and
the Air Mail. Il is obvious that, IN
asmuch as appropriations for the
Army and Navy Air Services have
been practically the same each year
since the war. and are not increas-
ing. the aircraft industry cannot de-
pend any longer for expansion upon
the meager peace. tins requirements
Of these two services.
Moreover. the two services are
engaged in experim entail aircraft de-
sign. and are not ordering from the
manufacturers sufficient aircraft TO
place in quantity production those
types which are developed as re-
suit Of competition and design. As
q matter Of fact. the rapid advance
in the tactical use OF aircraft. in
volving new types. causes the scrap .
ping OF fully as many designs as
those which. are retained by the SER .
vices, consequently the maEufac- .
turers are obliged 10 spend enor-
nous sums in developing the new
types. only TO be refused orders for
quantity production after new de-
sisn is approved.
II is. then. matter Of great mo-
ment TO ths aircraft industry wheth-
or or not a nationwide commercial
use or aircraft is brought into being
In a word. the aircraft industry can
no longer live on Governmental or
ders. IL must be sustained by a gem
eral use of aircraft in the progress
siva business circles OF our country.
Nor can the aircraft industry con-
iinue TO serve the Army and Navy
on a competitive basis. because
competitive building OF airplanes
and motors results in a net loss to
hose concerns which are called
upon by the Government to build
The few experimental and training
planes necessary 10 keep up peace
lime establishment; while in the
'ase Of the Air Mail there is \ limit.
,v Congressional action. on the
number Of planes which may be
bought in given year. and that . -,
lumber is too small to return any |
profits TO the manufacturers.
Another factor in competitive
which does not make for
va ability in the aircraft industry is a..
his: aircraft factories. just big :,
'nough TO take small orders. prac- d.
icaliy adventurers in the field. with +,
ieither engineer nor creative abil- 1
~ worthy of the name. are making 4
ne competitive price basis one 4
which cannot continue. In other q
words the Government must give N
riders 10 the manufacturers on q
.asis which will at least return the :
ctuaL cost OF manufacture. to say
othing of a reasonable profit.
A survey OF the aircraft industry
rill show any competent business
nan that unless there is forward
n 1ovement in the establishment OF
Ommercial aviation on large scale
q this country. the whole industry
'll close down within the next
welve months. This is a damaging
i'uation. 10 removes from the in
ustrial element OF our national de
anse one OF its most important ac-
vities and one upon which reliance
iust be placed in time Of national
mergency for quantity production
needed aircraft for the expansion