Evening star., 1928-05-27
AIR CASUALTY LIST HELD
ARGUMENT FOR LICENSES
Figures Show Majority of Accidents
Occurred When Pilots We're Without
u. S. Permits-ActiOn Urged.

New Mexico. North Carolina, Ohio,
Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Caro-
lima, Texas, Washington and west VIZ
ginia.
Uniform State Law"
Then there are nine States that have
enacted what is known as the uniform
State law" measure with no regula-
tory provisions other than prohibition
of acrobatics over thickly settled areas
and low flying, but with provisions COW
ering the sovereignty and ownership OF
the space above the State; the lawful
ness of fight, liability, hunting from
airplanes. Jurisdiction over air crimes
and torts and jurisdiction over con-
tracts. These States are:
Delaware, Idaho, Maryland, Nevada,
North Dakota, South Dakota, Tennessee,
Utah and Vermont.
Fifteen States require periodic exarni-
nation of pilots and inspection Of planes.
They are Arkansas, Connecticut, Colo
RADIO, Florida, Kansas, Maine, Michigan,
Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York,
New Jersey. oregon, Pennsylvania, Viz
ginia and wyoming.
Florida and California had State laws
existing under the express provisions
that they would be in effect only untn
Federal legislation entered the field.
With the passage of the air commerce
act these State laws became void and
the Federal statute, with its licensing
feature became applicable to the gov
eminent of aircraft operations in those
States. The District Of Columbia and
Hawaii also became susceptible to the
Federal law.
The two remaining States-Kentucky
and Louisiana-have legislation cover
ing this phase of aeronautics: In Ken
lucky an air board exists for the pur-
pose of establishing airports and air
ways. while in Louisiana the law pro-
| vides that the pilot or owner OF plane
| carving passengers must be bonded.
| The Department of Commerce Is not
attempting to force legislation on the
| States dealing with the licensing and
| unlicensing problem Yet it has drawn
up Several laws that would, in its opin-
| ion. prolong the lives of the States res
| idents. save money lost in "washed-out"
| aircraft and work for the general ad-
| vancement of aviation. These laws are
on file for the asking and tons Of infor-
nation and argument in support Of
| them also are available.
Cities support Government.
| Many municipalities, either aware or
not aware of the inaction of the States
/ in the matter of correcting the uncon-
| trolled, unregulated operation Of air.
| planes, have taken it upon themselves
| to line up with the Federal Govern
ment's desire to reduce the casualty
| list in civil aviation.
| Cook County. Ill. last year was one
of the first, If not the first. to take the
| cad in this respect. Its board Of county
commissioners adopted the following
resolution:
THE board of county commissioners
hereby prohibits the flying Of aircraft
within the corporate limits Of the
County of Cook, excepting such aircraft
as has been inspected and licensed by
the Department of Commerce Of the
United States and when operated by
pilots possessing licenses issued by the
Department Of Commerce of the United
States;
THAT no pilot of aircraft be permit
ted to operate aircraft within the cor
porate limits of the County Of Cook
excepting those who are in possession Of
| licenses issued by the Department Of
| Commerce of the United States"
That resolution shuts the door to the
/ willful or unwillfti evader of the moral
| behind the Federal statute. and that
| resolution is in line with what the De-
| partment OF Commerce would like to see
| on the State law registers all over the
| country. In that event, there would be
but one type of pilot and plane and the
Aeronautics Branch promises that both
will be good.
The license for pilot and plsne costs
nothing It must be acquired, how
ever, before engaging IN carrying per-
sons or property for hire or the United
States mails between States. The Ii
censing provision was for the protec-
ton of the public in interstate travel
Within the State, however, an airplane
with no license. and pilot with no
| license. may carry passengers and be
immune from the law so long as he does
not cross the border to neighboring
State, Territory or the District Of Co
Mmbia. An aircraft used solely for
pleasure or non-commercial purposes
need not be licensed. although engaged
in flying between States, but at the op-
ton of the owner 1t may be licensed. in
which event IL must observe all the re-
quirements of licensed aircraft.
OF all the airplaneS that are being
manufactured in the country today.
about lS4 different types. less than 40
have been approved by the Department
for manufacture as safe airplane. This
does not mean that the difference be-
tween these two figures represents air
craft that have not been approved. The
figures are cited to show the care which
is exercised by the department In ex-
amining and testing the airplaneS be-
fore the designer and builder are per-
mitted 10 inscribe the following on the
side OF the product: Manufactured
under approved type certificates, De-
partment of Commerce" and the num-
Der of the certificate.
The approved type" plane has been
declared sound In every respect, There
should be no difficulty encountered in
obtaining licenses for succeeding edi-
tionS of the approved type" as long as
the construction work remains at high
standard AS the knowledge spreads
throughout the country that there Is
such thing as Government-indorS
plane and the public learns TO demand
evidence as such before IL flies. perhaps
the non-licenSe craft viii Starve TO
death.