Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-30
Pilot of the Air Fleets

come the flying secretary of the air"
guiding the great industry in which he
was once an enthusiastic pioneer.
Maj. Young's official flights in the
United States cover at least $4,000
miles a year. In addition to his
knowledge of Americas airways. he is
familiar with European aviation, hav-
ing been sent as a special observer by
the President to study airways on the
continent. Because of his knowledge
of conditions here and abroad, his
comment is interesting:
U. S. Keeps Pace With Europe.
Frequently one hears reference to
the great air passenger lines Of Eu-
rope. The comparison is often made
in a way which suggests that we are
not keeping pace. This is certainly not
the case. Extensive operations have
been inaugurated and maintained by
subsidy throughout Europe. These
operations have set an example; they
indicate what can be done in this
method of transportation. But in the
last three years private enterprise In
this country has developed, without
any direct subsidy, a daily scheduled
airway mileage unequaled in any other
country.
I'VE have added new air routes reg
ularly. Our daily scheduled mileage
flown now totals more than $4,000,
and almost one-third of this Is flown
at night. Night schedules Of this
kind are non-existent elsewhere. Our
airways cover $3.50 miles, and in add1-
ton there are So-called foreign lines ex-
tending up into Canada, down into the
West Indies and to the countries OF
South America which total more than
l. 900 miles.
FLYING Becoming Safe.
'"These airways are in regular use by
we'll established air transport COM
panies, which are always adding to
their equipment for the carrying OF pas
sengers as well as for the contlnuatlon
of their success in transporting man
and express.
"The question, is flying safer Is
asked frequently. Of course, serious
Observation-Disclosures airplane, railroad,
automobile or SteamShip-w1ll always be
sensational front-page news. But the
ratio of miles Travelled an accldenV
should be kept in mind in aviatlon-as
it is, perhaps subconsc1ously, IN otner
forms of transportation. Our statistics
show only one fatality for each 1000
miles of scheduled flight. Also, planes
constantly are becoming safer and
more reliable. Safeguards are being
proyided and improved-these include
radio communication between ground
and plane, to direct craft accurately;
radio beacons, to guide pilots IN I'M
favorable weather; mecaviators, or
mechanical pilots; true-helght altl-
the ground at all times. instead OF above
sea level, and many other devices to
make aviation as safe as any other
TRANSPORTATION system. BY using fully
equipped airwayS, good equipment and
thoroughly trained personnel, one line
during the last three years has carried
$4,000 passengers on both Scheduied
est injury. Another line has just COM
pleted 100000 miles of flying without
injury to any passenger.
by establishing airways. by inspect
ing aircraft, by licensing pilots, by
rating flying schools and fostering the
development of suitable airports and by
other important activities the Govern
ment is doing its best to protect the
fiying public. The result Is a sense of
swiftly and which assures a constantly
increasing utilization of air tranSporta-
ton with all its marvellous possibilities"
Mai. Youngs diversified experience
enables him to take full lead in develop
ing the sense of safety to which he re-
fers. Having spent several years In
commercial aviation, he has to q great
extent the viewpoint of the pilot, the
operator and the others he now governs.
In the department he now heads he
served as chief of the all-important
regulations division before becoming
director and, finally, Assistant Secre-
tary for AeronauticS. All this, and
realization by the industry that he is q
practical man and an experienced pilot
has inspired a great coincidence which
will go far toward producing the most
beneficial cooperation. Under his lead
ership the btllion-dolla aviation In
dustry should progress smoothly and
efdciently.