New Britain herald., 1928-02-11
tBy FRANK J. cARMoDY)

Aviation as an industry Is march ing toward an inevitable prominence in the field of transportation. pro- vided it keeps its feet on the ground.
 This terse statement may be taken as symposium of the views Of leaders in all phases of the in- dustry. opinions obtained in inter- views on a wholesale scale at the recent air conference held in Wash ington under the auspices of the bureau of aeronautics of the United States department of commerce. In thus appraising the future of their industry, its leaders, whether they be manufacturers. operators, air school heads, pilots or those con nected with still other phases of 1t, are not living in fools paradise. They realize that aviation Is not going to succeed in the field of transportation merely because there is glamour about 1t, or because an occasional remarkable accom- plishment is recorded in favor of the airplane, but because 1t has a definite economic value.
 Sums Up Situation
 One of the large airline operators thus summed up the situation con- fronting the newest transportation industry:
 The airplane IS entering the pub lie carrier business. It makes it's en- trance with one definite. advantag ge over all other carriers-its infinite- ly greater speed. Before it can capitalize upon this advantage 1t must demonstrate its capacity to carry passengers mail and other cargo with complete safety and on regular schedule. Now, We in the industry have no doubt of the planes ability to make this demon stration. It is being made daily and as result We see an expansion of air-mindedness. That air-minded- ness. however, has not reached the stage where it might be termed complete. It will be, I believe, at an early date"
 This statement might be accented as the keynote of the conference summoned by the department of commerce wherein leaders of the Industry, on the basis of their re- gently gained experience, might of fer suggestions as to methods of hastening the day when aerial com- merce will take on a stature pro- porttonate to it's promise. Charged With the responsibility for guiding the destiny of the industry, officials Of the aeronautics bureau through out the five days sessions sought the views of all aviation groups on the form that federal guidance should take.
 No phase of the aviation situation was ignored. Subjects ranging from safe plane design to the get-rich- quick school of flying were laid be- fore the delegates Perhaps the most significant sessions of the en- tire conference were those relating to proposed changes in the air commerce regulations. During the period of their application, the present regulations have worked out satisfactorily for the most part. in the opinion of Assistant Secre. tary William P. MacCracken, ir.. head of the aeronautics branch of The department. and Clarence M. Young, director. Most of those manufacturers and operators who have been affected by them also are or this opinion. it was brought out. Regulations Extended
 However. the feeling is current in some quarters that the regulations well might be extended, modified or amended in some respects to the tn- lndustry's advantage. These, in the main. include the proposal to limit the use of war surplus planes in the field Of passenger carrying for hire, the testing of aircraft for licenses, increasing the requirements for pi-, lots seeking transport licenses, the issuance of a master pilots license for the exceptionally qualified man, the use of a handbook as a guide in airplane design, the rating of air ports and the use of such airports Iy licensed planes.
 These were the amendments of which departmental officials were the authors. On their part, members Of the industry proposed amend 'nents dealing with stricter examinh- ton os mechanics, one to permit operators greater latitude in the in- spection of their own craft and the acceptance of international stand arda of construction in the interest of the export of American airpiane products.
 While the views expressed on these questions were not lacking in definiteness on the part of individu- als and groups directly concerned. they were not conclusive. On the basis of what it learned through the medium of the conference on these and scores of less important sub jects, the department soon will pro- mitigate notifications in the exist ing regulations. Although officials have given no intimation of what Will be their eventual action on tho specific recommendations considered by the conference. observers pro- fess to see some important changes on the way. These will be concerned with removal of many of the lesser hazards that still surround the oper- alton of some types of planes at cer- tain flying fields and flying schoons.
 It is considered unlikely that the war surplus plane will be removed from the picture by official action. This type of plane is automatically passing out of use as new produc-