Evening star., 1938-07-19

CLINTON NJ. HESTER.
Star Staff Photo.
routes and will define the service to
be rendered.
Certificates will be granted to new
airlines or to existing airlines for
services over new routes only when
such additional services are required
by the public and wasteful duplication
of services will thereby be avoided
When once granted. however. a certifi-
cate will give the airline a permanent
right to the particular operation, sub
ject only to revocation for a violation
of the act.
Prior to the enactment of the new
act, the Post Office Department pro-
vided for a!rmail service by awarding
contracts. Under the new act this
contract system is abolished. and
airlines will carry the mail whenever
they are required to do so by the
Post Office Department. just as do
the railroads.
Airlines are required by the act to
charge reasonable rates for the car
riage of passengers and property and
must file with the Authority and make
public tariffs showing the rates
charged by them. The Authority is
given power to alter the rates charged
if it finds such rates are unreasonable.
The Authority also will fix the rates
of compensation which the airlines
will receive from the Government for
the carriage of airmail.
The Authority is empowered to
supervise the business practices Of
airlines and to prevent the use of
unfair business practices and unfair
methods of competition. The new
law also enables the Authority to
prevent such interlocking corporate
relationships in the aeronautical field
as it finds to be contrary to the public
interest.
Assurance for Public.
These are the broad outlines Of the
economic regulation provided in the
Civil Aeronautics Act. Under the new
act the public will be assured of ade-
quate air transportation service at
reasonable rates The airlines them
selves will be assured, through the
issuance of certificates of convenience
and necessity, of permanence of opera
ton and freedom from undue duplica-
ton of service and will be protected
against the use of unfair business
practices.
In addition to economic regulation,
the act contains extensive provisions
regulating aviation from the stand
point Of safety. Thus, it is made
unlawful for person to serve as a
pilot or member of the crew of an
aircraft, or as a mechanic engaged
in supervising the overhaul of aircraft
unless he holds certificate issued by
the Authority authorizing him to per-
form such work. Before issuing such
a certificate the Authority must ex-
anime the applicant and find that
he is properly qualified as to expert
ence and skill and is physically fit to
perform the type of service involved
Provision is made for the issuance
of various kinds of safety certificates
for aircraft. There are two primary
certificates issued: Type certificates,
certifying that the specifications for
the particular type of aircraft are
suitable as basis for the manufcc-
ture of airworthy aircraft, and air.
Worthiness certificates, issued tor each
individual aircraft, certifying that the
aircraft is airworthy when operated
and maintained as provided in its cer-
tif1cate. An airworthiness certificate
will be subject to revocation whenever
the Authority determines that the air.
craft for which it is issued is no longer
in condition for safe operation, and
the act makes it unlawful to fly an
aircraft in interstate or foreign COM
merce unless an airworthiness certifl-
cate has been issued for the aircraft
and is currently in effect.
Additional Safety Powers.
Additional powers over safety are
found in those provisions of the act
which empower the Authority to pre-
scribe air traffic rules, regulations gov
erning the maximum working hours
of pilots and other employees of air
lines, minimum standards governing
reserve supplies of fuel, and similar
regulations. I will not discuss in de-
tail these additional powers because
they are mostly concerned with powers
and regulations that have been carried
over from the old Air Commerce Act
However. they have been enlarged and
revised to meet the advancements in
the art of flying by airlines and mis-
cellaneous and private flyers.
The act specifically provides that in
performing its duties the Authority
shall take into consideration the es-
sential difference between air trans
portation and miscellaneous and pri-
vate flying. You may be assured that
those interested in the administration
Of this new legislation are fully aware
Of, and sympathetic to, the problems
Of the private and miscellaneous flyer.
AS further step in bringing about
the highest possible degree Of aviation
safety, the act creates permanent
Air Safety Board of three members
This board is charged with the duty
OF investigating accidents in air COM
merce and reporting on the causes
thereof Under the old law no such
permanent board existed. Separate
investigating boards were appointed
by the Secretary of Commerce each
time an accident occurred. Under
that system the members Of these
boards, except for advisory members,
were subordinates of the Secretary Of
Commerce and the Director of the
Bureau Of Air Commerce, who were
themselves oticially responsible for
the efficiency of the safety regulations.
Board Made Independent.
The new act in the creation Of the
Air Safety Board makes the board
independent Of the Authority, and
gives the board power to choose its
own personnel. This assures impAr-