The Wilmington morning star., 1946-03-17
AIR BOARD OPPOSES
PAID COMMISSIONS
Continued From Page. One)

matters pertaining to aviation.
Commission Members
The Aeronautics body is com.
prised of Rowe, William c. Olsen,
Raleigh; Thomas H. Davis, Wins
ton-Salem; Paul N. McMurray,
Fletcher, and H. H. Baxter, Char.
lotte.
Continuing his statements rela.
tive to the position of the commits
sion in regard to paid groups, Rowe
said, Aviation is still in its EN-.
bryonic state insofar as practical
economic application is concerned.
1t offers tremendous opportunity
for commercial and private trans
portation in this state, where we
are blessed by year-round flying
weather, and where there are SO
many facilities available.
with all the military installa.
tons now being turned back to To-
cal authorities and made available
for commercial use, there is a
real problem facing those who are
responsible for maintenance and
operation" the chairman asserted.
This requires all the ingenuity
at the command of the local
groups, as well as that Of the CAA
and of this commission, said
Rowe.
HnJdinr Meetings
In accordance with this, he con-
tinued, I'VE are holding meetings
in Greenville on March 26 and in
Wilmington the following day, to
discuss practical methods and pro-
cedWes. This commission will also
hear from operators of airports
in this section at this time. and
will assimilate data from the field
with respect to public thinking
about aviation now"
Rowe disclosed that considerable
concern is being felt over the &C.
casional stunt flying and town buzz
ing that is taking place in the
state. Complaints have been re-
ceived b. both the &C mission and
the governors office regarding
such. practices recently, he re-
vealed.
1.-THE CAA rules and regulations
under which we operate plainly
forbid low flying over towns or
where crowds OF people are gath
cred. Every pilot who holds pr
|vate license or better knows those
rules and knows further that he
will forfeit his certificate if he
is reported to the CAA authorities
for such offenses.
Causes Accidents
"This type of flying causes more
accidents than all other types COM
bined, and under existing state
laws can be terminated by local
action the chairman explained.
He further pointed out that "the
commission is eager to see new
airports and landing strips in ev-
cry community and urges those
who are making such preparations
to make full use OF the CAA en-
gineers in Charlotte. There is no
charge for this service and these
preliminary surveys assure COM
munities of safe sites for flying
fields, and also often prevents ex-
penditure of funds in spots where
the CAA will not approve safe
landings and take-offs, and where
future federal aid may not become
available.
IF aviation is to find its place
in the field Of transportation, it
must have the careful attention Of
those who fly and the public gen
orally. There must be no hapha-
zard planning for an industry that
will play such an important part
in the life of our state during the
years ahead.
'Handicaps for airport operators,
such as added rules and regula-
tons over and above those of the
CAA and prohibitive taxes to sup
port paid commissions, would GER
tainly retard aviation in the state
at this time" Rowe concluded.