Evening star., 1937-01-31
Bv Alice Rogers Hager.

"HE recent cycle Of tragic acci-
dents which have marred the
remarkable safety record Of air
i transport operation in the
United States has given rise to great
deal of hasty comment as to the plac-
ing of blame and the most effective
means of preventing occurrences, the
Aviation World reports.
Airline operators and the Bureau of
OF Air Commerce are flooded with let
ters suggesting fantastic schemes that
cover a range from the possible to the
completely ridiculous. None of the
official reports are as yet available,
yet every one, from the man in the
street to the well-known commentator,
has his settled opinion. The safety
conference, called by the Government,
meets here on February, 4, and g..
and an opportunity will then be given
for a thorough airing Of facts, which,
1t is hoped by every one concerned,
will be of value to the industry as q
whole.
In advance CO this conference, 1t be-
becomes q matter of considerable in
terest to try to assay just what prog
ress aviation has made in this country
in recent years-almost, in recent
months. since what Is news today in
this fast-moving game Is obsolete to-
morrow. Before making such survey,
however, 1t Is necessary to clear the
ground by eliminating certain mis-
leading factors.
Since the safety factor is the one
principally under discussion, q COM
parison with foreign situation serves
particularly we'll Maj. c. c. Turner,
London Daily Telegraph air corre-
spendent, some six months ago made
a study at first hand of our airlines,
and reported that whereas the United
States had a passenger or a pilot killed
for every 15,500,000 passenger miles
Of flying, Great Britain had one for
every 3,500,000. England, which is
the only country except our own which
has heretofore systematically pursued
policy Of aviation research, has a
safety record only one-fourth as good
as ours, 1t would seem. Comparable
statistics are difficult things to handle,
but even making all necessary allow
ances, Maj. Turner offers these as
completely warranted.
A MOTHER British visitor, Lord Will
loughby de Broke, commander of
bombing squadron. adds his con-
clusion that:
"The three main points Of differ
ence between the two countries seem
to be the outstanding superiority OF
the American machines as regards
speed, the amazing efficiency Of their
ground organization and the general
airmindedness of the Nation" He
adds, later in his article In the Ex-
press:
II have often heard it said that the
geography and climate of the United
States make 1t an ideal country for
flying and that things are very much
easier for them than for US. Here !
differ. During Winter months, In
. large part Of the States, they
have appalling climatic conditions,
which are probably never equaled and
certainly not exceeded on any. Of our
empire air routes. And yet the trans
continental airlines continue to run
with clocklike regularity"
We do not, however, have to 81
afield for significant comment. Among
the recent accidents, one airline in
volved had Travelled the route where
the crash occurred 36,l00 times with
out mishap. Another had flown mail
and passengers for IL years without
death, and that over some Of the
EoGt aAxaga terain IMAGINABLE, Sdll