The Nome nugget., 1941-11-05
To Train Latin Americans In U. s. Aviation


 tails were released today of a plan for increased cooperation among American Republics which will bring young men from below the Rio Grande to be trained as pilots and aviation technicians in the United States, beginning shortly after the first of the year.
 the year,
 The program will be under the sponsorship of an Interdepart- mental Committee and the cours- es offered will vary in length from six months to two years. It calls for the initial training of PTS pilots, Is aeronautical admin l istrative engineers, 87 instructor mechanics, and 120 airplane ser vice mechanics each pledged in l advance to a career in conner ial aviation.
 The Committee known as the Interdepartmental Committee on i Technical Aviation Training for Citizens of the Latin American Republics, consists of William Barclay Harding, Vice President, Defense Supplies Corporation, also representing Coordinator of Inter-American Affairs; Thomas E. Burke, Chief, International Communications Division, State Departments; Major Eugene E. Gillespie, Air Corps, War Depart ment also representing Navy De partment; G. Grant Mason, Mem Der, Civil Aeronautics Board, and Brig. Gen. Donald H. Connolly, Administrator of Civil Aeronau- tics.
 Pilot training will be under the supervision of the Army Air Corps and the Civil Aeronautics Administration. The 75 Army trainees will take the regular Air Corps Training with the eX- ception of military subjects, while the 200 CAA trainees will learn flying at approved certific- ated schools which have trained more than 60,000 U. s. youth in less than three years. The CAA will also carry out all the mech anic training in a similar fashion
 Selection boards will be set up in each country to consider ap- plicants and award scholarships on competitive basis. Appllc- ants are to be apportioned among the 20 republics, taking into con sideration the needs of each for trained personnel. They must be between the ages of 21 and 35. Army trainees must be single, but marriage will constitute no bar to those seeking CAA train ing. However, subsistence and transportation will not be provid ed for wives or other dependents nor will any compensation in the nature of salary be paid to any trainees.
 These young men will help strengthen the ties of friendship already binding the Americas, y General Connolly said, in making the announcement. "Those who successfully complete the various courses will return to their own countries equipped to enter em- ployment in civil life directly in the field of aviation, or with some of the commercial activities which are becoming more and more interWoVen with the rapid ly growing aviation industry and will possess the knowledge and skills enabling them to become airline pilots; to give proper flight instruction; to supervise the maintenance and repair of aircraft and engines, or to direct schools devoted to the training of aviation mehanics. AS a result the domestic and international air transport services throughout the hemisphere will expand and become more homogeneous. ''This is a concrete example of what the overWorked term good neighbor' can really mean" OURDO QUO H"