Evening star., 1932-11-20

-lght is concentrating on means of
Mr.. Neely's address came as reVcla-
On to many of his hearers Of the thor
oughnesS with which the Department
of Commerce pursues it's accident in
vestigation. The original investigation
Is pursued by board which includes
two pilots, an aeronautical engineer, an
aviation lawyer, specialist in aviation
medicine and statistician. This board
is equipped to handle in expert fashion
every phase of an accident.
The first duty of the board Is to de-
termine whether the license of the air.
plane involved should be suspended
pending completion of repairs or wiped
out entirely. The medical member de-
termines whether the pilots usefulness
has been temporarily or permanently
impaired, and his license is suspended
until a complete cure IS effected, or is
revoked permanently.
Facts concerning the crash, as ascer-
tanned by the various experts of the
board, are then passed on to various
sections of the aeronauticS branch for
appropriate action. The mechanical de-
tails, concerning the airplanc and en-
gine, go to the engineering section,
which makes thorough study to de-
termine whether other airplanes need
to be strengthened or redesigned to
overcome any weakness revealed by the
mishap.
The inspection division goes into
questions of personnel to determine
whether any changes may be required
in regulations governing pilot training
or operating conditions
The medical inspection goes into
questions of physical and mental char
nPtnr.cfinc nf I1o IL,
be involved to ascertain whether there
Is any need for tightening up of re-
quirements in this respect.
Finally, the enforcement section gets
the facts and findings of the other sec
tions to determine whether there has
been any laxity in obedience to neces-
Sary requirements and whether there is
need for any amendment to existing
regulations or for more rigid enforce
ment OF any particular regulation or
set of regulations.
Before the department is through a
thorough analysis is made of the spe-
cif1c accident in relation to all other
accidents and there is published semi
annually a table of statistics of all ac-
cldents, broken down under many types
of classification. for the benefit of ali
concerned with accident prevention.
The results Of the departments ac-
cident investigation work have been
many and far-reaching. Certain types
OF planes which have been responsible
for more then their share Of accidents
have been driven of the market or
reCesigned to correct their shortcom-
1ngS. Structural standards have been
established for parts which have been
common causes of trouble. Methods
OF operation have been improved
Greater safeguards have been estab-
lished. 1t Is v'ork which is promoting
the welfare of cI who fly and SO IS
serving an ever-increasing proportion
Of society.
College Park Is Active.
TIE old airport at College Park, Md,
said to be the first regular flying field
in the United States, may become the
the Capitals first Aviation Country
Club. Five privately owned planes now
are kept at the field and efforts are
being made to have Aviation Country
Clubs establish local chapter there
Washington is said to have fewer
privately owned aircraft than any other
city Of its size in the United States,
largely due to the fact that there is no
field specifically equipped for the hand
ling Of private flying operations in a
way which will attract prospective
sportsmen pilots. This lack of field
now is being overcome by a program of
development undertaken at College
Park by George C. Brinckerhof.
j. Earl Steinhauer, former mainte-
nance chief at Washington Hoover Air
port. has taken over the same duties at
College Park.
College Park in the earliest days of
ysaNf H., H.
ers and was the scene Of some of the
first Transforming" and exhibition fly
ing undertaken in the world. 1t now
is the testing ground of the aeronautics
branch of the Department of Com
merce and some Of the most important
aeronautical radio developments have
taken place there. The department
now is completing preparation Of run
way locaiizing radio beacon installation
there for what are expected to be con-
elusive demonstrations of the feasibility
of blind landings" by radio. These
experiments, if successful, may mark
the opening of new chapter in mans /
conquest of the air.
Reserves Are Filling Ranks.
Enlisted personnel of VN-6R and
W.T., local Naval and Marine Corps
AVlaIlOn reserve SQuaQrOnS, is Delg
brought up to quota strength rapidly
and both squadrons are expected to be
up to full authorized strength very
soon.
As this was written the Naval Reserve
Aviation Unit was preparing to make
its final selection of candidates for en-
listment. Twelve or is men were to be
chosen from some 80 candidates who
have undergone long preliminary trial
period, including examinations and at
tendance at drills and classes. These |
selections will fill the naval squadron's |
quota for the present and the officers
of the squadron are confident of obtain |
ing splendid material with so many men |
to choose from.
WI, the newly organized Marine |
Corps Reserve squadron, also stationed |
at the Anacostia Naval Air Station, has |
enlisted between Is and 20 men and has |
many applications on hand. The squad
rons quota is 40 enlisted men and eight |
officers. It has seven officers and an |
eighth is ready to take his final
examinations.
VN-6R on Friday afternoon held con-
solidated ground and air training and |
WI today will put in flying time be-
tween 8 am. and pm.