Evening star., 1939-10-08
1900 Students Wanting to Fly
Train for Peace or War Dutv
Civil Aeronautics Authority Program Launched
in 400 Schools; Number of Applicants
Far Exceeds Expectations
Rv TosoA 1so~o.
By Joseph S. Edeerfon.

In approximately 400 American edu-
cational institutions some 11.OO0 young
men and women have started aero
nautical training under the aegis of the
Civil Aeronautics Authority to fit them
selves for flying careers in peace or
war.
Although just getting under way, the
program already is beginning to have
stimulating effect on civil aeronau-
tics-an effort which is expected to in
crease rapidly as the training gets into
full stride, with lasting benefit to Amer
lean aviation.
The program will require the use OF
approximately l,100 training airplanes
during the latter part of the winter and
early spring. At least an equal num-
Der of instructors will be in direct charge
OF the flight training work, under the
strictest Federal supervision. Many of
these instructors already are conducting
or assisting in the conducting of ground
school courses in the educational insti-
tutions selected for participation in the
program.
Manufacturers already are anticipat-
ing the immediate demand for new train
ing planes although the number which
the training schools will have to pur-
chase still is undetermined. Forward
looking manufacturers also are plan
ming for the days beyond completion of
the current training program, when
thousands of college and university
graduates, holding Federal private pilot
certificates of competency, will be po-
tential customers for airplanes for use
in business, sport and recreation.
Important to the cause of national
security IN war-torn world is the fact
that these thousands of partially trained
pilots will be available, no later than
next summer, as reservoir from which
the military services may draw suitable
material for final training in case of
national emergency.
Response Exceeds Expectations.
Although nearly 10 per cent of the
participating colleges and universities
had not yet been officially enrolled at
the time this was written, a large pro-
portion Of the 355 which had been desig-
mated as training centers prior to Octo-
ber l already are conducting physical
examinations and other preliminaries
or already have begun ground school
classes.
The number of applications from COL
1eges and universities for participation
In the program has exceeded by far the
response which was anticipated by c. A.
A. officials in charge. Although they
had hoped to spread out the program
to the greatest possible extent. they
had not expected to receive applica-
tions from more than 300 educational
institutions. Instead, the applications
already have gone far beyond the 400
mark and the final rolls will show be-
tween 800 and 400 schools in at least
At States and the District of Columbia.
Only Nevada, at the time this was writ
ten, had not yet been represented.
The participating schools have been
notified of the sizes of the quotas of
students assigned them for training as
rapidly as their applications can be
passed upon and approved These
quotas range from 10 to so students.
The list of schools includes two wom-
ems colleges-the first time women ever
have been included in Federal aviation
training program. The womens schools
named are Mills College, at Oakland,
Calf, and Lake Erie College, Paines.
vile, Ohio. Others have applied and
their applications in some cases still are
pending.
Three colored education institutions,
the nearest of them being Hampton In
stltute. Hampton, Va, also have been
selected.
G. w. U. Designated.
In the District of Columbia only one
school has been designated George
Washington University. The University
OF Maryland, at College Park, also has
been chosen and will carry on its flight
training under direction of George
Brinckerhoff at College Park Airport, the
worlds Oldest flying field in point of con-
tinuous operation. Dean S. S. Steinberg
OF the school of engineering is in charge
of the program.
The flight training in each case will
be carried on at fixedbase flying schools,
such as that at College Park. George
Washington University has not yet an
nounced its training field It has an
nounced that Al men and IS women have
registered for training and that Prof.
Norman Bruce Ames, major in the
Army Air Corps Reserve, has been as
signed to conduct the ground school
course, which opened October l. The
university has been informed that Bea-
con and Congressional Airports, in near
by Virginia and Maryland, have been
approved by the Civil Aeronautics Au-
thority and that Mount Vernon Airways,
at Hybla Valley, also is among those ex-
pected to be qualified for flight training.
There will be as many fixed-base op-
orators selected as there are participate
ing schools. They are being subjected
to the most rigid Federal requirements
and c. A. A. inspectors have been busy
through the summer examining the pros
pective flight schools and putting flight
instructors through exacting ground and
flight tests.
The C.. A. A. requires that training
plane and instructor be provided for
each 10 students, but has fixed no exact
limitations upon the number of students
attending ground classes. It is expected
that at least 100 flight instructors and
400 or more ground school instructors
will handle the actual instruction.