Evening star., 1937-03-01

ed re0rga nization OF the Bureau. voic-
ing the opinion that there will never
be successful operation Of the Bureau
until the present system is changed"
In his letter Of resignation to the
Secretary OF Commerce. Vidal said:
AS you know, I have desired for
some time to be relieves of my duties
as director OF air commerce In order
to take advantage Of some very at
tractive offers from the aviation in
dustry which also will permit me to
contribute TO aviation's progress I
have remained in the Government
service this long because I was eager
to accomplish a number of objectives
which I had established for myself
when 1 entered the bureau nearly four
years ago.
Il wish to express my appreciation
for the continued friendship and sup
port of yourself and your assistants,
and my desire to be called upon at
any opportunity to be Of service"
Vidal's last official act before leav-
ing the bureau was to organize
safety research and development Sec
ton which will embrace all safety
research and development work OF
the bureau. This section also will
include a committee representing all
phases OF Federal. commercial and
private aviation. which will advise the
bureau as to the projects most urgent
IL, - oaa5 ~ ;nyaetioofioy, rosoo rrh
experimentation and development.
Vidal Is an Army and civilian pilot
Of more than Is years experience and
a former airline organizer and execu-
tive. He was appointed an assistant
director Of the Bureau Of Air Com
merce in June. 1888. and four months
later was elevated to the post Of di-
rector.
He spent five years in the Army Air
Corps after his graduation from West
Point. where he had notable record
as an athlete. especially in foot ball.
He was a vice president of Trans
continental Air Transport, the original
''Lindbergh Line" and later was an
organizer and vice president of the
Ludington Line, between Washington
and New York; the first "every-hour-
on-the-hour air transport service in
the world. This line later was absorbed
BY Eastern Air Lines.
Vidal is credited with the establish
ment Of . separate airline inspection
service within the bureau and with
obtaining enactment by Congress OF
an amendment to the air commerce
act authorizing the Commerce De-
partment to regulate airline opera
tions for safety reasons. Under his
direction there was promulgated
whole new set Of airline regulations
covering all phases Of operations.
With the view of aiding the air
craft industry, Vidal obtained con-
gressional authority to engage in de-
velopment work on aircraft. engines
and accessories. Most important was
the work on types of aircraft suit
able for the novice in aviation; q pro-
gram which has resulted in four new
and different types being put into
commercial production. The pro-
gram also resulted in development Of
the "caster-wheer' type Of landing
gear which is expected to revolution
lie the landing and taking Of of air
craft. Equipment for keeping ar
craft free Of ice also has been de-
veloped. The radio teletypewriter was
developed for airways communications
Hearings in Accidents.
Vidal also sponsored the congress
sional amendment authorizing the
Commerce Department to hold public
hearings and make public the probable
causes of aircraft accidents.
He Is credited with having been in
strumental in bringing about a $780,
0o0, 900 Works Progress Administration
program Of construction at $50 air
ports and with airmarking Of towns
and cities throughout the country.
Under his leadership the entire United
States has been mapped for aviation
purposes.
During the period he was in office
the number Of student pilots holdings
active licenses increased from $500 to
81, 400; production Of private aircraft
has increased and the price has de-
creased.
As q result of the recent airline
safety conference called by the de-
partment, q number of specific steps
have been initiated by Vidal to pro-
vide for greater safety. Within the
past three days orders have been
promulgated requiring installation Of
directional and homing radio devices
m aiyltners and the nroyision of anti.