Evening star., 1939-04-08
By JOSEPH S. EDGERTON.

By JOSEPH S. EDGERTON.
The Nations commercial flying
schools are to be called on by the
War Department to assist the Army
Air Corps Training Center in turn
ing out pilots for the 5000 new air.
planes to be purchased in connec-
ton with the air defense program.
This civilian assistance is entirely
distinct from the proposed 10000
pilot program of the Civil Aero
nautics Authority.
Approximately 1000 flying cadet
candidates must be started in flight
training to insure sufficient num-
ber of pilots after the wedding out
process is completed. To obtain
1000 fit even to start flight train
ing, however, at least $1,000 young
men must be examined, it is esti-
mated on basis of past expert
ences.
The Air Corps pilot training plan
calls for a thorough overhauling
of the present system. Instead OF
a year at the training center flying
cadets will be given only six months
of intensified training there. Their
first three months, comprising the
primary stage will be given in ac-
credited commercial schools under
rigid Air Corps supervision, it is
planned.
Program Without Parallel.
The whole program is without
parallel since the World War and
will involve procedure without any
precedent in the Air Corps selec-
ton and training of its military
pilots.
The Air Corps Training Center
at San Antonio, Tex. is composed
of the Primary Flying School at
Randolph Field and the Advanced
Flying School at Kelly Field. The
present capacity of the center is
approximately $50 trairees year,
a total far short of the requirements
for the increased program.
The War Department policy OF
using commercial schools which
have been licensed by the Civil
Aeronautics Authority and which
meet special Air Corps requirements
not only is intended to supply pres
ent emergency needs but to build
up a system to which the Govern
ment can turn in case of war
time emergency.
Assigned to Schools.
Under the new program the Air
Corps will give candidates the neces-
sary physical and mental eXamina-
tions and will assign them to schools
in their immediate localities for
primary dual instruction. The Gov
ernment will provide training air
planes and equipment and will pay
the schools for the primary train
structors will examine the gradu-
ates and determine whether they
meet military requirements, particu-
larly as regards the vital spark
known as inherent flying ability
Those passing muster would 60 to
the training center for three
months Of basic training at Ran
dolph and three months of advanced
training at Kelly.
Such method, halving the time
spent by each flying cadet at the
big Army center, would at least
double the output of the training
center without any increase in its
present facilities. Because of the
preliminary wedding out at the
civilian schools, general efficiency
of the training center is expected
to increase, and the quality of Off
Ger pilots graduated is expected to
be equal to present standards.
IA Schools Accredited.
To standardize the procedure at
the civilian schools the instructors
there first will be trained to Army
standards and methods at the Air
Corps Training Center. So far IA
schools, well distributed through
out the country, have been accredit-
ed by the Civil Aeronautics Au-
thority and approved by the Air
Corps. Several others may be add
ed before actual training begins at
the start of the new fiscal year,
July 1.
Congress, for the current fiscal
year, appropriated for 200 additional
second lieutenants of the Air Corps.
A further increase of 1T has been
authorized for the next fiscal year
as q part of the regular program.
There has been total increase
In Air Corps commissioned person.
mel from 1,408 on June 30, 1887, to
about 1888 on November /, 1888,
and estimates for the fiscal year
1910 provide for an average of 1,755
officers and SOB flying cadets, with
an additional 975 officers of the
Organized Reserve on extended ac-
tive duty.
The Presidents aid defense ex-
pansion will come on top of these
totals and provide for a total of
1853 officers, virtually all of them
pilots, by July l, l941. This would
nearly double the existing officer
personnel, including both regulars