Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-09-23
RADIO IS STRESSED
AS AVAT|ON'S NEED
Governments in South Amer
lea Found Establishing Own
Flying Schools.
By CAPT. LEWIS A. YANCEY.
Special Dispatch to The Star.


on Exuma, in the Bahamas. Fortu-
nately, the main purposes of our tour
were accomplished. We only regret
F., that the Wright-mctored Stinson mon
| plane that carried US so safely over
| jungle and mountain, across forest and
| sea, did not finish the trip.
We left Washington after being re-
ceived by President Hoover on May ID
! and few by way of Miami to Cuba
and thence to Mexico City, where we
had the honor of participating in the
funeral rites for Mexico's great aviator,
/, Col. Sidar.
After spending several days in Mexico,
we continued to the Canal Zone and
thence flew down the west coast of
South America, crossed the Andes be-
tween Santiago, Chile, and Mendoza,
Argentina, and continued TO Buenos
Aires. We were there five weeks, and
even though in a hurry to continue
our tour, we were loath to leave that
hospitable city and country. For that
matter. it was always with regret that
We quit each place at which we stopped,
so interested were the people in aviation
and aviation radio and so cordial were
they to all four Of us.
Governments Foster Air Schools.
We talk here in the United States
OF the great advances being made in
aviation. We read that in Mexico and
Central and South America aviation
Is moving forward with great strides
1t is necessary to see it, I think, some
what as We saw it to realize just how
fast aviation Is growing south of the
Rio Grande and the Panama Canal. In
Chile, for example, the government has
taken 1t upon itself to educate its youth
to fly, A civilian in that country is
privileged to take flying lessons at gov
eminent controlled schools for less than
81 an hour.
In the Argentine the government Is
providing flying schools also, not only
for military pilots but for those wishing
to ny their own planes or to enter COM
mercia1 aviation. These are merely
two instances of the manner in which
the South American countries are tax
ing hold of this new method of travel.
We think we are air-minded here in
the United States. We cannot realize,
with our great motor roads and rail-
ways, what a positive need aviation fills
in South America. 1 am informed on
what consider the most reliable testi-
mony that every air line in South
America is more than breaking even,
and it is common knowledge that the
Scadta line in Colombia has been a
money maker for 10 years or more.
Before making this flight had been
under the impression that South Amer
lea afforded little in the way of what
we call good flying country and much
that We designate up here as extremely
bad flying country. 1t was our expert
ence that only the pass through the
Andes, which we few with scarcely a
bump at 1900 feet, was really bad
flying country, and our own Rockies
offer flying just as bad. The east coast
Is Jungle-covered for much of the route.
but few miles inland we got away from
the jungle and found reasonably good
emergency landing places on much of
the way between Buenos Aires and the
northern coast of South America. Aero
postale, the great French line, is fitting
up landing fields and preparing gener-
any Tor aerial expansion through this
whole area.
Radio Eliminates Danger.
The one thing that stands out above
everything else in connection with orr
trip was the success of radio and the
conviction of its indispensability in any
worthwhile aviation. At no time in the
10000 miles were we out of touch with
land stations. 1t was commonplace for
US 10 call the New York Times radio
station and establish immediate and
one story while $500 feet in the air and
$500 miles from Times Square. I talked
| with the Majestic 1000 miles of the
coast OF Europe from the air over
Buenos Aires. If for any reason we
could not reach New York direct we
could always talk with Pan-American
Always ground stations, and 1t was
an ordinary occurrence for us to chat
with Pan-American pilots in the air.
e ma IT,
On the way south we were flying from
Mexico City by way of Vera Cruz to
Guatemala City. Guatemala City is
1000 feet up, and the mountains
around 1t are about 5000 feet up. The
way into the city is through a crooked
pass, with the mountain sides a scant
200 yards apart. We started out ahead
OF Pan-American Ford transport and
Bouck talked continuously with the
transport as we travelled. The Ford
pilot could see us about Is miles ahead
OF him. At San Geronimo we landed
Tor gas, and we were pulling away lust
as the Ford came in. He followed us
out, and then informed us by radio
that the clouds were down in the pass
You wait for me, and will lead
you through" he said.
Burgin ctrcled as we came to the
mountains, with the fog and clouds
down around them, and along came
the Ford. Burgin fell in a hundred
yards behind, and while Bouck kept up
a running conversation with the Pam
American pilot we followed his trail.
Don't be afraid to come through
follow close" the Pan-Am plane flashed
us, and then started down under the
stun and boring right into what looked
TO us like mountain wall We fol-
lowed, and then the Ford pilot radioed
We have man in the pass who Is
Keeping us informed on conditions there.
Come right along. Everything is all
right"
Everything was all right. We fol-
lowed that Ford around the S turns of
the pass under the soup" with the
mountains on either hand shrouded in
clouds. and at no time did we feel the
least fear without the radio I think
we would not have attempted the task.
Guided Rescuers Before Crash.
Coming out of Guatemala City we
hac to go through the same pass. Pam