Imperial Valley press., 1937-03-28
IF THERE IS CRITICISM
1T is UNWARRANTED

1T is UNWARRANTED
It was coincidence tinged with tragedy
that the Post-Press newspapers carried
stories quoting President Alvin P.
Adams of Western Air Express that un-
warranted criticism has deferred air.
way travel, and in the same issue a story
that 13 people had been killed in TWA
passenger plane crash near Pittsburgh.
We cannot agree with Mr.. Adams con-
clusions, nor in whole with his state
ment, but we do most heartily concur in
the belief that the American public is
entirely too much impressed by sensa-
tional stories of fatal accidents in air
way travel.
Statistics prove it.
1t is only in isolated instances, and
fortunately they are very few, that sem
sationally minded newspapers voice
harsh, unwarranted criticism stirred up
by aviation accidents. In those few cas-
es where reliable newspapers do make
criticism, who can say that they are
wrong? No industry goes forward with
out criticism. Such justified criticism
is an effort to build up-not to tear
down The sensational newspapers,
which print harsh, unjustified innuen-
do, are luckily very few-and they are
more loathed by their fellows in the
newspaper business than by anyone else.
ANY newspaper which is worth read
ing follows policy of progress. In
line with such policies, you will find
very few newspapers in the United States
which will not when they legitimately
do oil i'm advance
the interests of aviation. More, you will
find very few newspapermen who will
not fly on business and personal jour-
neys when they have the opportunity.
Newspapermen know that aviation is
safe. They know that the unusual is
news-and that airline crashes would
not be news if they were not unusual.
1t is unfortunate that the public is not
entirely up to date with that realiza-
ton.
1t is not enough to make the bare
statement that flying is safe. The state
ment does not carry conviction.
But there is proof.
The mathematical odds that you will
come down safely if you go up in a COM
mercial airplane are $1,000 to l.
According to the records of one line,
you can fly on that system total OF
$4,000 miles a year, which Is far more
than the average person travels, and 1t
would take you more than 400 years to
suffer an accident These figures, based
on percentage, were taken from actual
records of number of miles Travelled and
number of passengers travelling. Accord
ing to the same records, you could traVel
at speed of 160 miles an hour day and
night for II years before meeting with
an accident.
1t does not sound like a hazardous
business.
Insurance company statistics gather
ed by one well known organization prove
that it is 700 per cent safer to lily imam
get out of bed in the morning. The IN
surance company reported payment OF
Sc claims resulting from aviation acci-
dents = and 36,306 claims from accl-
dents in the home.
Most enlightening of all, perhaps, are
the figures showing that during one
year there was one fatality In automo-
biles and buses for every 11,295,32O pass
enger miles, while in aviation there was
one fatality for every 24,754,OOO passen-
ger miles. 1ou are lSo pei WV
in the air than on the ground!
The subject of aviation, and the safe
ty of aviation, is of paramount interest
right now to Imperial Valley. 1t mas
direct bearing upon the likllhood ana
the desirability of obtaining airmail and
,sassenger service between here and San
Diego.
1t is increasingly evident that there
is no reason the valley should not at
tempt TO obtain such service. CONNER
cial aviation, an infant industry, is gov
ernment subsidized. There is every rea,
son for the subsidy, from an industrial
as well as from national standpoint.
Further, aviation shows signs OF grown
TO a point where it will pay its own
way even in the carrying of mail. Here,
too, are figures to prove 1T.