Evening star., 1940-07-07
Hinck|ey 10 Take Oath
As Commerce Aide
Early This Week =
Former c. A. A. Head
Still to Supervise
Many of Its Activities
BY OLIVER MCKEE.

Robert H. Hinckley, formerly
chairman of the Civil AeronauticS
Authority, will be sworn in as As
sistant Secretary of Commerce
early this week, it was announced
at the Department of Commerce
yesterday. In his new post Mr..
Hinckley will supervise the Weather
Bureau, transferred to the Depart
ment of Commerce by the reorgani-
nation which went into effect June
80. and many of the activities of
the Civil Aeronautics Authority,
also transferred to the Commerce
Department in the recent re-
shutting of Federal agencies.
Mr.. Hinckley is expected to give
particular attention to the enlarged
program for training civilian pilots.
With the speeding up of national de-
fense plans, this program has as
sumed increasing Importance. Mr.
. Hinckley played leading part in
initiating this training.
10000 Pilots Trained.
On June 80 the program had
turned out nearly 10000 new pilots.
For the fiscal year which began
July l plans call for the training of
$4,000 pilots. Congress has ear
marked $37000,0O0 for this work
Between June Is and September Is
primary training will be given to
$4,000 pilots. This will consist of a
ground course of 72 hours and a
flight course of 35 to SO hours Sec
ondary instruction of As additional
flying hours will be given this sum-
mer to 1000 students who already
have completed their elementary
training. In the fall $4,000 more
primary pilots will be trained and
another $4,000 during the spring
semester. The training will be car
ried on in 500 centers located in
every State, Hawaii, Alaska and
Puerto Rico. During the past year
only one student lost his life in an
aircraft accident.
Though the functions of the new
Civil Aeronautics Board have been
placed within the framework of the
Department of Commerce, it will eX-
ercise its functions independently
of the Secretary of Commerce. The
board will prescribe safety stand
ards, rules and regulations, and
will have the authority to suspend
and revoke safety certificates after
bearings 1t also will exercise the
lnvestigative and other functions
formerly vested in the Air Safety
Board, abolished by the reorganiza-
tion order. The board will carry on
Its accident work both in Washing
ton and in the field.
New Administrator.
A new official, the administrator
of civil aeronautics, will handle many
of the former activities of the Civil
Aeronautics Authority with respect
to safety regulations. The admins
traitor will direct a field staff of
aeronautical and engineering in
spectors, and airworthinesS engi-
neers. He will provide for the flight
testing and examination of appli-
cants for airmen certificates, super
wise the examination and flight
testing Of aircraft for type and air.
worthiness, and the examination OF
aircraft manufacturers facilities to
determine whether production
certificate should be issued. He also
will supervise the equipment and
facilities of aircraft repair stations
and flying and mechanic schools.
A Joint resolution is pending In
Congress to permit Col. Donald H
Connally of the United States Army
to assume the duties of admins
traitor.