Evening star., 1941-03-17
Aluminium Priority
Threatens 10 Halt
Civil Pilot Trainino
Planes Lost Only Eight
Months and Metal Ban
Prevents requirements
BY JOSEPH S. EDGERTON.


Under aluminium priorities now in
effect, construction of light planes
in the United States will come to
a standstill by mid-April, gradually
bringing to a halt the civil pilot
training program of the Civil Aero
nautics Authority and virtually all
except military aviation training in
this country, according to leaders of
the light-plane industry.
There are 1907 light airplanes in
use in the pilot-training program
today and 1t is estimated that 5,710
must be built during 1941 to main
tain this program. The nght-plane
industry schedules call for con-
struction of $500 airplanes during
1941.
The light plane manufacturers, 1t
is understood, have sounded out
Army and Navy officials on the
situation, which they consider to
be critical not only for American
defense. but for the future of civil
flying in this country, and, following
these conferences, have submitted
a memorandum to E. R. Stettinius,
jr., director of priorities for the
Office of Production Management,
covering their requirements for the
194l-42 programs, with a request
for relaxing of the priorities regu-
lations in their favor. Aluminium
priorities have been in effect since
February 20.
1,638,000 Pounds Needed.
Based on last years consumption
OF aluminium, 1t is estimated that
the light plane industry will require
1888 900 pounds of the metal for
the $500 airplanes scheduled to be
produced this year.
The average light plane used for
training purposes today contains 1O1
to ITO pounds of aluminium, as COM
pared with military trainers which
contain as much as 1000 pounds per
plane. On this basis, the 1000 900
pounds would produce only 1,600
military training planes. Since only
one man can be trained at a time,
strict application of the priorities
restrictions would mean reduction
of 1000 in the number of student
pilots actually in training, it is
argued in the appeal to the o. P. M.
One of the light plane manu-
facturers needs only 181 pounds of
aluminium to complete 100 airplanes.
The metal, less than one pound per
plane, is needed for wing-root
fittings.
1t is reported that IS per cent of
the light planes produced in the
United States today go to aviation
schools for flight training. There
are CTS schools participating in the
civil pilot training program which
operate 2 to 20 airplanes each.
These students are receiving train
ing without interference with their
military training under the Sc
lective Service Act, since college
students are exempt from compul-
sorry service. The program takes
advantage of their college years by
giving them preliminary aviation
training, turning them out ready to
go into advanced military aviation
training.
Light training planes have an
average life of about 800 flying
hours, or the equivalent of about
$4,000 lies at an average of only
rs n les per hour. The average
trailer piles up its 300 hours in
about eight months and then is
retired from service. Including
losses from accidents, breakage and
other causes, the light plane train
ing program requires about $50 per
cent replacements year.
This means, If no further light
planes are built for lack of alumni
mum, that the last of the trainers
now in use or which may be de-
ivered before current aluminium
stocks run out next month will be
retired before the end of 194l, it
was pointed out.
Biggest Program.
The Civil Aeronautics Admins
tration now is supervising three
training courses a year, with $4,000
students enrolled in each course.
They require a total of 10000 hours
of flying time per course, or 10000
hours a year. All of this is given
in light planes today. No other ma
ton has a program of this scope and
the American program is coming to
be regarded as model for the world.
1t is said that all members of the
o. P. M. and the Defense Commits
sion are not in agreement with Mr..
Stettinius on the decision to with
hold aluminium from the light plane
builders. In fact, the light plane
program is regarded as so impor-
tant that the o. P. M. has estab-
lished an Office to handle it.
Some of the light plane builders
are turning to wood, plastics and
other metals to replace aluminium,
but have not yet found any way of
doing away completely with use of
the light metal. Others are blocked
by the necessity of completely rede-
signing planes and manufacturing
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