Evening star., 1948-06-27
Air Force Reports 569
Killed Last Year, 369b
Under 1946 Figure
By John A. Giles

The Air Force disclosed yesterday
that it lost SO per cent fewer per-
sonnel in plane accidents last year
than in 1916 but that the fatality
rate still was II persons per 100000
flying hours.
In 1916, when the air arm re-
ported 889 fatalities, the rate was
Is per 100000 flying hours. There
were $50 fatalities last year.
The number of airplanes wrecked
recently the subject of severe criti-
cism by Congress, also showed
drop of 80 per cent-from 758 in
1916 to $40 last year. The rate OF
wrecks per 100000 flying hours
dropped from 81 to IS. A wrecked
airplane is one that is damaged
beyond repair.
Jets May Bring Rate Rise.
Air Force officials attributed the
improvement "in great part to the
efforts of United States Air Force
headquarters to establish an ef1ec-
tive flying safety program
They pointed out also that as a
plane becomes older and the pilots
more familiar with its operation,
the fatality and wreck rates drop
accordingly. Looking to the future,
with an expanded and modernized
propelled Air Force, they were
inclined to believe that the rates
might rise. However, they said that
every effort was being made TO
insure that sufficient consideration
is given to safety factors by the
designing engineers" of the neew
craft.
Most of the fatalities occur with
large transports and bombers carry
ing big crews. There were 212 IA
talities last year in bomber accl-
dents, 40 per cent less than In 1946.
Transports accounted for 1913 IA
talities last year, 81 per cent less
than the previous year.
Most Trouble at Landing.
The Air Force, which wrecked one
fighter plane out of every four IN
1e46, still had more trouble with
the fast planes than any other type
as far as wrecks were concerned:
A total of 243 fighters were wrecked
last year, IA per cent less than IN
1916. Representative Engel, Re
publican, of Michigan, has called
the fighter wreck rate entirely too
high" and asked Air Secretary
Symington and Gen. Hoyt S. Van
denberg, the chief of staff, to make
a concerted effort to bring the rate
down.
The greatest drop in number OF
wrecks as far as plane types are
concerned has come with oomoer
operations. Sixty-six bombers were
wrecked last year, So per cent less
than in 1916.
Difficulties in final approaches
and landings cause more Air Force
plane accidents than any other-5o
per cent. To help remedy this,
ground control approach units are
being installed as rapidly as funds
permit. The devices, which permit
the landing of airplanes in bad
weather by control from the ground,
already have been installed at 70
major bases-one of them at An
drews base here.
Safety Program Emphasized.
An additional 80 units will be
placed in operation during the fiscal
year beginning next Thursday. The
first ten GOA units, which were
largely experimental, cost $750,o00
each, but cost of the additional 80
is expected to run considerably be-
low 100000 each. Plans call for the
installations at every major base.
The Air Force is laying great en-
phasis on it's safety education pro-
gram, including the requirement
that pilots attend accident study
classes. 1t also has conducted ex-
tensive research into cause factors
with a view toward accident elimi-
nation.