Evening star., 1935-06-09
American Aviation Is
Now Setting World Pace
BY HARDEN COLFAX.

Every little while some business
leader. and occasionally member of
Congress, advocates the establishment
of a new cabinet posit.On-a Secre-
tary for AeronauticS. In recent bill
it was set forth that we need an aero
nautics policy to include considers-
ton, not only Of naval and military
aircraft ard movements. but of civil
aviation a we'll
In commenting the other day on the
civil aviation activities OF the Gov
ernment, Secretary Of Commerce Ro-
per pointed out that his department
has definite program. This includes
the cultivation of airmindedness. the
development of cheap planes and the
building Of adequate airports.
Secretary Roper pointed out that
air commerce in the United States
has advanced phenomenally. even
during the depression" and that this
Government now operates a greater
length of Federal airWays than the
combined mileage Of all the other
ma jor countries of the world De
spite this progress" he said. I'VE have
only scratched the surface"
The United States has possibilities
in air transportation probably greater
than those Of any other world power.
IN fact. a potential air power of
10000 planes and 1900 pilots-a
mixture CT specialized fighting ships
snd men. and leSS-adapted civilian
ships and pilots-was disclosed re-
Gently in an unofficial survey. which
Government authorities said was ac-
curate.
A part Of the civilian force, pri-
marily the large and swift commercial
transports, and q somewhat larger
percentage of the civilian pilots. could
be incorporated. authoritative sources
said. with the 4.400 flyers and nearly
900 planes making UP the trained
fighting forces. Then there Is po-
tential reserve strength of about Is
coo civilian student aviators and a
fleet of ships available for primary
training service. The hir Commerce
Bureau reports 6,855 licensed and
$50 unlicensed airplanes, total Of
8,S05.
This survey maintains that. al
though the United States has the
speediest and most Efficient airplanes
n the world, and striking technical
developments under way our country
lacks a comprehensive national avia-
ton program" 1t points out that.
while other governments are building
up huge private manufacturing and
operating industries, knowing these
industries to be the heart and soul
of air power" the Government of the
United States has no national avia-
ton program. There Is much activ-
ity. but 1t lacks coordination"
The Bureau of Air Commerce,
which operates under the provisions
of the air commerce act of 1926. "es-
IablisheS, operates and maintains air.
ways, pursueS research on aids to air
navigation, licenses aircraft and air.
men. regulates scheduled airlines, ap-
proves, as to air worthineSs craft.
equipment and accessories; inspects
repairs to licensed craft approves sta
tions and flying schools. investigates
accidents. and in general enforces air
commerce and traffic rules" During
1884 civil airplanes in the United
States carried 1850. 900 passengers, as
compared with 1,74O,O00 in the pre-
ceding year.
u x
The survey admits that American
aviation is reputed 10 be setting the
pace for civil aeronautics to the
world in general. However, it says,
ewing to "the impact Of new politi-
cal philosophy on the economic struc-
.ure of the Nation" American avia-
ton is cropping blindly in the con-
fusion of aims and methods" 1t is
suggested that the recent report OF
the Federal Aviation Commission be
adopted, since it "offers Congress an
admirable foundation on which to
build a great national aviation pro-
gram"
While the United States ranks high
in commercial aviation in military
aircraft performance and in naval
aviation, it is rather behind in the
number of airplanes for military pur-
poses. Advocates of a more closely
articulated policy on av!a tion for all
our national interests. both civil and
military, however. point to the value
of our commercial aviators in work
ing out a policy daptable to possible
future needs for defense.
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