Evening star., 1928-10-28
Continued From First Page.)

(C0nLlnueQ FTOLu cISt EdBcI
the duty of approving or disappearing
pilots who would fly and planes which
would be used In interstate commerce:
The tests for the transport pilots
were the most strict. These included
emergency maneuvers, spirals, side slips,
climbing turns, landing within a GER
tain distance of a mark, cross-Wlnd
landings and finally cross-country
flight of at least 100 miles.
To impress pilots with the seriousness
of the regulations, penalties for viola
tions were determined, covering care
lessness, incompetency In operation, fly
ing under the influence OF liquor, per-
forming acts contrary to public safety
and any violation Of the air-trafic
rules.
The air-traffic rules, by the air COM
merce act, were made to apply to all
civil aircraft, SO that even the barn
stormers who carefully stayed within
the limits in one State to avoid the
necessity for licensing were required to
cease acrobatics with passengers.
A reasonable period was provided be-
fore full compliance with the require
ments was expected. Then, just as
the licensing and inspection system be-
gan to show it's effect in leSsening air
accidents, there came q tremendous
boom in interest caused by the now
historic flights of Lindbergh, Byrd,
Chamberlin, Goebel and other famous
pioneers. The public became more air.
minded than the most sanguine had
expected, and almost every plane that
could, get into the air was busy carrying
"joy-riders.
Results Are Good.
When licensed planes and licensed
pilots were used the results were uni
formly good. But through the loophole
of interstate commerce-which was not
Federal Observation-Disclosures of worm
out planes were flown without inspec-
ton, sometimes by pilots not worthy of
the title. Not infrequently students
who had had only few hours solo
time In addition to 10 hours Of train
ing competed with licensed veterans,
and the public seldom knew how to
distinguish between the two classes.
Following the wave of accidents In
commercial aviation at one period Sec
retary Hoover sent for me.
"The department Is being blamed for
these accidents" he said gravely. II
know that unlicensed planes and pilots
are responsible for most of them. but
we must find some way to reduce this
large number. It Is more serious when
you consider that many of those who
climb into these unsafe planes do not
even suspect that they are taking a
chance. It is up to us to stop all OF
this as much as possible"
"The need is for State legislation"
replied, "but the idea Is very hard to
drive home. And people do not under
stand the difference between licensed
and unlicensed pilots. Frequently they
believe an Identification number to be
sign of approval by the Government" "
I'VE must emphasize that point, "
said Secretary Hoover. II shall do all
I can In a personal way, for this Is a
very bad situation. We must also en-
courage the States to pass suitable
laws which will conform to rather than
conflict with the Federal law. We can
offer our cooperation to relieve them
in measure of the burden Of admin
istering such laws"
asked Col. Charles A. Lindbergh to
make a public statement which would
guide and warn those using public air.
craft. Through his message hundreds
of thousands began to realize that acci-
dents In aviation were for the most
part due to carelessness and irreSponsi-
bility. Col. Lindbergh pointed out that