Evening star., 1939-02-21
{. A. A. Plans Fight
On Foreign Invasion
OF Latin America !
Aviotion Forum Told
Of Preparations for
Night Air Service I
By JOSEPH s. EDGERTON.


transport invasion Of Latin America
the Civil Aeronautics Authority is
preparing to install airway beacons
on Latin American routes in prep
aration for night operations, G.
Grant Mason Of the G. A. A. told
the National Aviation Forum today.
Mr.. Mason declared 1t is vitally
necessary to maintain and better
our position throughout the world,
especially on the American con-
tinent. This country must meet the
"keen competition and startling
methods" employed by certain
European countries" which are seek
ing to dominate Latin American
markets and transportation field,
said.
Studies by the G. A. A. in Latin
America have revealed "a serious
situation" Mr.. Mason said. Every
South American country is receiving
international airline service by Ger
man. Italian, French or Dutch COM
panies, he added, and, unknown to
most Americans, Germans alone now
operate more route miles in sched-
uled air transport service in South
America than do our own carriers.
I'VE do not intend permitting
the challenge to 60 unanswered"
Mr.. Mason said.
Reichelderfer Speaks.
In his first public appearance as
chief of the Weather Bureau,
Comdr. Francis w. Reichelderfer
told the forum that coming trans
Atlantic air service will make neces-
sary a great extension of weather
collection and information services.
He said this will include increased
numbers Of observations from surface
vessels, both by increasing the num-
Der Of reporting ships and the fire.
quency of radio reports from two
to four day. 1t may become neces-
sary to establish floating weather
stations in various parts of the At
lantic, he said.
Airplanes must be made as simple
and safe as automobiles and aviation
must be given place in the coun-
try's educational system If civil
aviation is to advance as it should
and provide essential support for air
defense, Edward j. Noble, chairman
of the Civil Aeronautics Authority,
declared in opening the second days
session.
ITO me it is self-evident," Mr..
Noble said, that If private flying is
ever going to get anywhere so far as
general popular acceptance is con-
cerned, 1t not only must be made
safer, but will have to be simplified
so that the greatest possible number
Of pilots Of normal or even sub
normal intelligence can fly without
breaking their necks."
Private flying will never develop
on mass basis, he said, unless the
airplane can be made at least as
simple and safe to operate as the
automobile.
"As a matter of fact" Mr.. Noble
said, "it ought to be made simpler
and safer. and I. for one, believe
that is possible. I am also con-
vinced that when, and only when
this is accomplished, the airplane
will be fitted into the daily life of
the American people in a way that
will make aviation truly Q great
industry"
Training for Pilots.
The proposed program for training
10000 pilots year, he said. is in
tended for the first time to give
aviation ''its proper place in the
country's educational system" He
pointed out that the Federal Gov
ernment today makes an annual
contribution of $22 900, 900 for the
vocational training of its citizens in
l 100 different trades and professions,
but that so far aviation has not
been included.
"All the Civil Aeronautics Au-
thority is trying to do is to remedy
this injustice and to give aviation
at least a part of the recognition it
deserves" he stated.
Mayor Fiorello La Guardia of New
York is scheduled as q speaker at a
luncheon meeting. Among other
speakers today will be Senators
Mead of New York and McCarran
of Nevada, Thomas H. Beck, presi-
dent of the Crowell Publishing
Co., and Col. John H. Jouett, pres
ident of the Aeronautical Chamber
OF Commerce.
The possibility of massed air at
tack against the United States from
across the Atlantic or Pacific has
passed from the realm of the fan
tastic to the possibility of tomor-
row, Assistant Secretary of War
Louis johnson told the forum dele
gates at dinner meeting last night.