Evening star., 1947-01-29
Strong Plane Industry
Urged as Auxiliary
To Services in War
By W. H. Shippen, Jr.
Aviofion Editor Of The Sfor

AVIATION EDITOR OF Inc Sfof
The Importance of strong air
transport industry as an auxiliary
to the armed services in event Of
war was emphasized at the Senate
Commerce Committee investigation
of air accidents today by Vice Ad-
miral A. w. Radford, deputy chief
of naval operations for air.
Chairman Brewster followed up
similar testimony yesterday of Army
Air Force officers by asking the
admiral to give his estimate of the
value to national security of an ade-
quately manned and equipped civil
aviation network, especially in the
overseas field.
The Senator explained a statement
ON the question was most important
at a time when Federal economies
are being urged at the expense of
the airlines and when some people
even feel that because of recent &C
cidents that civilian flying activities
should be curtailed.
Strong Program Urged.
Admiral Radford declared that
strong civil aviation program is "ab-
solutely essential" to national de-
fense through the development OF
improved types of transports, the
maintenance of adequate manufac-
turing plants, the establishment OF
airways and communications and
the training of personnel.
"Air transportation was vitality
important in the last war" the ad-
miral pointed out, land will be even
more so in the next one. Our success
will depend largely on our ability
to transport men and material
swiftly"
Meanwhile. David L. Behncke,
president of the Air Lines Pilots As
sociation, told the House Commerce
Committee, which also is seeking
the causes and cures for plane dis
asters, that establishment of an in
dependent air safety board should
be the first step toward cutting
down on crashes and restoring pub
lie confidence in air travel.
Former Board Recalled.
Back In the 1930's there was an
independent board. 1t was abolished
in June, 1910, and its functions
placed under the Civil Aeronautics
Administration.
Mr.. Behncke said the result is that
in effect the same agency is writing
regulations and conducting investi-
cations to determine whether its
regulations are proper. He called
that cart before horse" procedure,
Mr.. Behncke said he believed that
once an independent air safety board
has been re-establiShed and recon-
mendations are being made fear
lessly, free from all forms of inter-
ference and inducements, political
and otherwise, the public will come
back and ride on the airlines in
numbers that will permit the busi-
ness to 60 forward to take it's right
full place in the world of transpor-
tation."
Weather Conditions Discussed.
Bad weather traffic conditions
over National Airport, which have
been brought home personally to
several members of the House COM
mittee, were discussed at consider
abale length yesterday afternoon as
typical of hazardous periods at other
busy airports throughout the coun-
try.
AS to local conditions, the Repre-
sentatives asked Assistant Secretary
of Commerce william A. NJ Burden
and Civil Aeronautics Administrator
T. P. Wright the following ques-
tionS:
Why was the CAA "slow" about
adopting ground-controlled ap-
proach radar here?
Why were not civilian pilots in
formed earlier of military GOA in
stallations like those at Andrews
Field and Patuxent, where they can
land in bad weather emergencies?
Crashlanding Recalled.
Why did an airliner, unable to
land at National Airport because
of an emergency" traffic jam here
a few weeks ago, pass up Andrews
and Patuxent to make a crash land
ing on Jones Beach, N. Y?
Why did five military planes, on
this same night. further overcrowd
Nationals facilities by declaring
emergencies" and landing there,
when they could have gone to either
military field in Is or 20 minutes?
Mr.. Wright answered the first
question about alleged "slowness'
in adopting GOA by pointing out