Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-17

~ OF an international CODE pro-
viding for the recognition in
all nations Of airworthiness certificates
for aircraft originating in other coun-
tries.
Not only is the lack of airplane reci-
procity between nations working "a Sc
rious injury to airplane manufacturers
all over the world, but it is breeding
hard feelings between nations. The
| seriousness Of the problem was recog-
| nized by the delegates to the recent
International Civil Aeronautics Con-
ference in Washington, but owing to the
| nature of that conference, it was i'm
possible to do anything about the mat
| ter except informally.
The entire reciprocity question was
discussed by officials of the Department
OF Commerce with members of the
| British delegation to the conference
both during and subsequent to the con-
| ference proper. AS result the Brit
J ish delegation on its return home be-
| gan negotiations with the home govern
ment which it is hoped may lead to
the framing Of some sort of agreement.
Owing to the lack of an airplane air.
| worthiness agreement among the ma
| tionS, the United States air commerce
act today forbids the flying of any for
| eign-built aircraft in interstate COM
merce in this country. with the single
exception Of planes built in Canada and
exported to this country under Ca
madam airworthineSs certificate for ex-
| port. No European plane legally may
| carry passengers or baggage for hire in
| the United States and no foreign-built
| plane may be licensed for use in this
country.
United States Held to Blame.
! Thus, while foreign built aircraft may
be brought into this country, they may
| not be used profitably and, since they
| may not be licensed, they may not be
flown legally by any licensed American
| pilot.
There is a reciprocal agreement In
| effect between the United States and
Canada. Aircraft manufactured In this
country. which bear Department of
| Commerce airworthineSs licenses, may
| be sold and used in the Dominion under
| regulations applying to regularly IL
censed Canadian planes and vice versa.
The lack Of an international agree
ment may be attributed in large part
| to the United States. The International
| Convention for Air Navigation outlined
| at the end of the war an agreement
among the allied countries, under which
one country would recognize the air
worthiness of aircraft built In other
countries. The United States failed to
| ratify this agreement and since has
formed its own code Of airworthiness
| requirements, which, in many respects,
differ from those of other nations
| Canada, while being a signatory state
! of the international convention, has
| working agreement with this country
! by which there is mutual recognition
Of airworthiness certificates Of the two
countries
| G. j. Desbarats, deputy minister of
national defense of Canada, has taken
a leading part in the attempt to bring
about an adjustment of the aircraft
reciprocity differences.
With the increase in aviation now
experienced In all countries" he said
1T is desirable that a much closer
agreement should be reached by al
countries interested in aviation. This is
particularly noticeable in a country
situated as Is Canada, where, although
the factories In the country produce q
small number of aircraft, the operating
requirements at the present time neces.
state the importation Of considerable
numbers Of aircraft and aircraft part:
from different countries.
Canada imports aircraft from Great
Britain. the United States, France, and
Germany, and their craft carry air
worthiness certificates issued by the
countries of origin. These certificates
are based on different requirements, and
as result some confusion has arisen
1t Is very desirable that these imported
aircraft and aircraft parts should be
built to the same standards as the air
| craft actually manufactured In the
country"
England Deals Forcefully.
The matter of airworthiness has been
forcefully dealt with In England by G.
@. Grey. one OF the foremost British
aeronautical authorities.
Does anybody happen to know that
the United States Is at war with Great
Britain?" he opened a recent article
on the problem There are plenty OF
crazy people who tell us that We are
going to have a war with America and
there are others who, for their own foul
ends, would like to see us at war, and do
their best to foster a hostile spirit on
both sides Of the Atlantic. Personally
one does not believe that We shall ever
again fight the people of the United
States, either on land or sea or in the
air or under the sea. But We do, at the
present moment, seem to be fighting
them in hot air. And it Is all over a
little matter of airworthiness certif1-
Gates.
I'VE refuse to recognize American air.
craft as airworthy on the strength Of
their holding certificates of airworthi-
ness from their own Department OF
Civil Aviation. which is a sub-depart-
ment of the United States Department
of Commerce AS reciprocity cuts both
ways, quite naturally the authorities Of
the United States refuse to recognize
our machines as airworthy, although
they hold certificates Of airworthiness
from our air ministry
when one looks at the subject
| sanely, why on earth should any other
country admit that our machines are
airworthy when We refuse to admit that
theirs are?"
Mr.. Grey touches upon the necessity
for some accepted international defini-
ton of the term "airworthy" pointing
as an illustration to the difference of
| opinion in the United States and Great