Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-07-10

commercial air traffic between this country and
South American republics.
The Department of Commerce Is directly
charged with the duty of encouraging and
regulating commercial aviation. However, the
War Department has more than a passing
interest in the expansion of commercial flying
and in the development of municipal flying
fields.
There is a close relationship between mill.
tary and commercial aviation. So close, in
fact, that military aviation, for its eventual
effectiveness in large emergency, depends
upon the support it can get from we'll estab-
lished aircraft industry and from IN airtrained
civilian personnel
From the military point of view, commercial
aviation is necessary as steamships, rail-
roads and other means Of transportation. The
more done to expedite the growth of COM
mercial aviation, the more done to strengthen
the aerial reserve of this country in case Of
war
A we'll established commercial air activity
would produce a strong industry. It would
stimulate engineering genius always seeking
new realms to conquer. 1t would create a.
great reserve Of trained mechanics and pilots
and-not least Observation-Disclosures com.
mercial air activity would result in the estab
lishment and maintenance of an extensive
system OF airports. Military planes depend
upon airports for their mobility much as
other branches of the Army depend upon high
ways and railroads Airports-in brief-are
vitality important to the Nations defense.
The relationship between commercial and
military aviation is not a one.sided affair. In
Its early stages, the airplane was put almost
exclusively to military use. Its development
has necessarily been largely in the hands of
the Government Up to the present time the
Army and Navy have been by far the largest
Of aircraft in this country, and. but for
this air activity on the part of the Govern
ment, the advances made in America in avia-
possible
The War Department. through its Army
Air Corps Engineering Division, has made
basic contributions toward the improvement of
aircraft and motors There is no substitute
for experience and since the Army has flown
more than any other single agency, it's expert
ence is wide and intensive. This experience
always available to the public generally-has
naturally been of great value in determining
the efficiency and serviceability Of different
types OF plane and motor construction, well
as in demonstrating the most advantageous
methods of maintenance and operation.
1t was the Army that flew our early planes.
1t was the Army that furnished frst air
mail pilots. It was the Army that laid the
foundation for our present transcontinental
system of airways. 1t was the Army that pre-
pared our first air navigation maps. 1t was
the Army which-through its technical ex.
Derts-increased the safety and practicability
of flying by perfecting the parachute, the radio
beacon, the earth inductor compass and many
other devices which have come to be almost
necessities to aerial navigation.
The industry and operating companies are
drawing heavily on the Army for expert pilots
and technicians. We dislike to see them go,
but there is consolation in the knowledge that
their experience is to be devoted to commercial
aviation progress in America.
The War Department has done all and will
continue to do all that it can to aid in that
progress. 1t is eager to make as many con-
tributions as possible toward stimulating COM
mercial aviation and in so doing to foster
agency Of peace and good will. In this respect
it Is following the general policy of the Gov
eminent to encourage, in the most practical
and in the most direct way the growth of
commercial aviation in this country.