Evening star., 1934-07-08

COIlSIPSS anu GllC ANOAoSAAV, o.AN
for a bulk of the Federal aviation
years. .
Every troublesome aviation prob
lem of the day is to be laid before
the commission for consideration
decision and report. The long agl-
tated merger of Army and Navy
aviation, the question of creation Of
a separate Federal aviation depart
ment to handle not only military ou'
civil aeronauticS matters; the tate
of the airship as a military aircraft,
decision as to permanent alrmal
policy; regulation of the air trans
portation systems of the Nation ano
of private flying-all these and othel
problems of far-reaching conSe-
ouence are to be brought before Mr.
Howell and his four fellow-commls
sioners. only two of them known as
aviation experts, for decision.
Must Report February L.
The commission probably will or
panize before the end of this month
and begin its great task at once, since
it has been directed to report to Con-
gress by February l, next, leaving
an interval all too short for the JoE
to be accomplished.
What the Howell commission will
be to aviation in general, the Baker
Committee created by Secretary OF
War Dern several months ago is tc
the Army Air Corps. This commit
tee has been hard at work for many
weeks going over the Army flying
service with a fine tooth comb tc
search out flaws in policy and IN
administration of the service, to pre-
serve the good features of the corps
and to recommend what changes ii
may deem advisable to strengthen
the Army'S aeral defense system.
Aside from the almost limitleSS po-
tentialitieS in the work of these two
bodies, the aviation history of this
Summer also must record the COM
plete reorganization of the airmail
system which already has been
effected, the forced abandonment by
the Army Air Corps of its time
established system of negotiated con-
tracts for the purchase of combat
airplanes, the beginning of operation
of N. R. A. codes for the industry and
of regulations for the wages and
working conditions of pilots ano
other aviation employees, and other
aviation developments which already
have dwarfed aeronautical happen
ings in any like period in its annals
Airline Control Granted.
One of the vital new pieces OF con-
gresslonaI legislation gives to the De-
partment of Commerce full authority
to regulate, for the purpose OF main
tanning safety standards, alrIlnes en-
gagged in interstate or foreign air COM
merce.
Under the new grant OF power, the
Bureau OF Air Commerce is planning
extensive changes IN the Federal air.
line regulations, and to this END has
called a conference between otnclaIs
OF the bureau ana representatives OF
; the scheduled air transport companies
to be held in Washington August Ii
and l6.
Many of the reviSlonS Will cover the
rapid technical advances IN airline
operation since the requirements ware
promulgated several years ago. Efforts
Will be made, 1t was explained by Eu-
. gene L. Vidal, director OF air COM
merce, to mt the requirements TO the
+ type OF operations carried out. MOI
: only will the airline regulations be
bro0ght up-to-date, but they VIII be
. localized as well.
4 AT the coming conference types OF
. suitable equipment and qualncatlons
ut n diffornTt Hrr1I
4 be discussed, as Will the use OF single
7. or multl-englned alrpIanes tor various
Z types OF operation.
Under the terms of the airrnai
act of 1884 the Secretary OF Commerce
also is authorized to prescribe the
maximum flying hours OF pilots or
alrmail lines and TO approve agree
mentS between alrmaI operating COM
panies and their pilots and mechanic!
. for retirement benefits. These sub
E jects also Will be discussed at the
+ coming conference.
Pleads for Air Records.
To overcome in some measure the
( effects OF the adverse criticism heapec
- upon American aviation during the
past months, former Senator Hiram
Bingham OF Connecticut, president OF
{ the National Aeronautlc Association
q has Just issued to the aviation industry
stirring plea t. go after worlc
, records" as a concrete demonstration
of the real worth of United States air.
planes and pilots.
Bingham pointed out that of the
70 officially registered world records
for heavier -than-air craft, but Si3
are held by United States planes. o.
81 recognized records for lane
planes, France holds 13, Italy, 3
Germany, 2, and the United State!
but /. In free ballooning this coun.
try holds IL of the % officially rec.
ognized records.
For an aviation industry, largely
dependent upon public good will anc
! public favor for the increased use o.
. its products" Bingham said, "tht
5 matter of achieving authoritatively
) and officially the stamp of world beS
can be of very considerable import
! ance. indeed. And particularly 81
2 now"
AS result of the "welter o
CIldl SCo dLlO SOullOCA -SA1dA So 4N6oA "
Z ing the state of aviation in thu
United States, which has come a!
an aftermath of the unfair and un'
: just cancellation of airmail con
! tracts" the N. A. A. chief pointed
out, the faith of the American citi'
zen in American aviation has beer
shaken Sorely.
It is squarely up to the aviation
industry to provide Americans will
s proof that American aviation is no
inferior, in terms the average citizel
can understand, Bingham declared
If the record tally read that so o
the 10 official world performance
were held by American planes, Bing
( ham said, the American laymal
. would need no prompting to us
this to measure Americas place il
world flying"
Bingham expressed confidence
T that United States planes and pilots
. if a real effort is made, can cap
/ ture a majority of all official record
:. and quickly"
"If." he said, "the United State