Evening star., 1941-04-19
Aluminium Priorities
Threaten TO StrangIe
Training Plane Output
Some Relaxation Forecast
To Permit Building Up
Plotting Reserve
BY JOSEPH S. EDGERTON.

Threatened with strangulation as
a result of aluminium priority re-
strictionS, the American light air.
plane manufacturing industry now
is receiving only driblets of the
strategic metal for production for
flight training purposes, pending
final ruling by the National Defense
Commission on the light-plane
priorities problem.
1t is understood there already has
been a considerable curtailment of
light-plane output in plants which
did not have stocks of aluminium on
hand when the existing aluminium
20.
Except for partial allocations of
aluminium which have been made
during the past month in the most
urgent cases, some of the light
plane plants probably would have
closed their doors during the last
half of the month, with all of them
facing suspension of production be-
fore the end of the summer.
Some Relaxation Forecast.
Defense officials said that,
although no decision has been
reached with regard to the light
plane industry, it is probable that
priorities in favor of Warplane plants
will be relaxed enough to keep the
lght-plane factories open and pro-
ducing on a curtailed basis to meet
flight training requirements. chief
of them the civil pilot training pro-
gram of the Civil Aeronautics Au-
thority.
The light-plane manufacturers
have schedules calling for produc-
ton of total of 10000 airplanes
during 1941. 1t has been estimated
that the civil pilot training program
will require at least $500 new air
planes during the year to maintain
its training schedules-more if Con-
gress approves an increase in train
ing funds granted by the Senate
in the Commerce Department ap-
preparation bill.
1t is probable that the priorities
ruling will allocate sufficient alumni
mum to the light-plane factories to
maintain the civil pilot training
program, with some margin for
other training and to meet other
emergencies.
Threatens Flyer Backlog.
The purpose of the civil pilot
training program, it was pointed
out, has been to build up a backlog
OF federally certif1cated private
pilots from which the military Serv-
ices may draw partially trained pilot
material. If the private pilot re-
serve is to be of value, however,
continued flying must be provided
If these civilian pilots are to keep
their hands in" Complete shutting
off of light-plane construction soon
would result in grounding of the
civilian reserve and loss of the bene-
fits of much of the training program,
1t Is argued.
Aviation leaders believe it is i'm
portant that light-plane factories
be kept alive through the period of
emergency to provide nucleus for
the postwar civil aviation expan-
sion which they feel is certain to
come. This expansion will be nee
essary if the great aviation indus
try now being built up is to be
saved after the war. Private flying
is expected to play vital role in
maintaining the postwar aviation
industry. some leaders anticipating
greater expansion in this field
than in the commercial air trans
port field in the future.
At the time the prioritieS restric-
tions were imposed, there were 1907
light airplanes in use in the civil
pilot training program. 1t was esti-
mated that a minimum of 5710
would have to be built to maintain
the program alone during 1941 and
that $500 light planes should be
built during this year. Defense
officials were told that the light
plane Industry would require 1,638,-
900 pounds of metal for these $500
airplanes.
Jamaica now has nearly 100 agri-
IL, e.