Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-11

Of faulty hull structure which opened
and started to leak.
The only instance Of a control system
failure was the breakage Of a rudder
control cable, which was found to have
been improperly installed so that II
rubbed and frayed. The engine mount
failure was attributed to improper de-
sign or lack Of proper maintenance.
The propeller failure was due to the
use OF combination which resulted
In localiZing of vibration stresses at
the root of the blade, where the failure
occurred. Change in design is ex-
pected to result In elimination Of this
factor.
Fix Pilots Insurance Rates
Airplane pilots who seek life insur-
ance policies will be accommodated at
rates based upon their experience, skill,
reputation for good Judgment and
other factors If the report Of the
Aviation Committee of the American
Life Convention. presented a few days
ago at the annual meeting In Pitts
burgh is adopted.
Policies will be sold to transport
pilots, but the report recommends that
the companies refuse policies on the
lives Of pilots engaged in stunt, ex-
hibition, record, exploration or other
extra hazardous forms of flying
A table Of rates for pilots was made
up by the committee after prolonged
study. The pilots have been divided
into five classif1cations for rating pur-
poses, on the basis of experience and
type of license held.
The first. or A classification, includes
pilots having transport or military
licenses with not less than 1000 solo
flying hours not less than 10 years
flying experience, not less than 300
hours flying at night and an experience
which includes the operation Of all
types Of aircraft in all branches Of
flying. The clasSiflcations scale down,
the fourth, or D classification. covering
pilots holding transport, limited COM
mercial or military license, with a
record Of between 500 and 1000 solo
flying hours and not less than two
years flying experience The fifth
classification includes pilots not specifl-
cally covered who may be determined
by, individual examination to be good
risks.
Rate Based on Flying.
In addition to the various classifica-
tons, the rating schedule Is based on
the amount Of flying done each year
whether flying Is under supervision of
qualllleo night omcerS, a record Of
violations and of accidents, the judg-
ment. technique and other mental and
moral qualifications Of the pilot and the
nature Of the terrain and other working
conditions.
For Class A pilots no additional basic
extra premium Is recommended. For
Glass pilots an additional basic rate
Of So per $1,000 is suggested; for c, SIS;
for D, SIS. and for the fifth, or x, SIS.
Premiums are scaled on the amount
Of annual flying and IL Is recommended
that no insurance be sold for pilots
who are required to ny more than $50
hours year.
An interesting feature Of the report
is a recommendation that pilots be
taxed heavily in the form of increased
premiums for violations of the air
commerce regulations. Ten dollars ad-
ditional premium per 81 900 is recon-
mended for pilots who have been meted
one warning or reprimand by the De-
partment of Commerce for violation of
regulations. and $40 additional where
there have been two warnings or
reprimands II the record OF violations
is more serious it is recommended that
insurance be refused.
An additional premium Of So Is
recommended where the pilot has had
a minor accident not assignable to