FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Atlas
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
1935
1935 - 1218.PDF
^66 FLIGHT. MAY 23, 1935. LORD SEMPILL, HOME FROM HIS I FLIGHT, SUMS UP HIS IMPRESSIONS j OF CLUB FLYING IN AUSTRALIA THERE are many aspects of aviation in Australia which might Well repay a brief survey. The development of private Hying, for which there is undoubtedly a con- sidt rable future, has been handicapped by the depression which has affected Australia, in common with the rest of the world, during recent years. Figures in relation to club flying show a steady improve ment, but the utilisation of the aeroplane by the station owners and those engaged in the raising of sheep and cattle—in which direction lies, perhaps, the greatest potential market for small aircraft—has not progressed as rapidly as had been hoped, for the above-mentioned reason. The club movement may be said to have commenced in 1926, when the Commonwealth Government decided to follow the example of the Home authorities and grant assistance from public funds. Certain aero clubs were in existence before this date, but their activities were somewhat spasmodic, and they were supported mainly by ex-service pilots desirous of keeping up their flying practice. The aim of the new Government policy was to facilitate this, and also to encourage the rising generation to undergo training and generally to stimulate public interest in aviation. By September, 1926, aero clubs had been formed in Sydney and Melbourne, the Government arranging to loan to them certain " Moth " machines and spar^ engines. The committees of the clubs took up their work wholeheartedly and in the remaining months of the year twelve pilots had been trained for their A licences. These two clubs continued to make satisfactory progress and, in addition to training embryo pilots, organised many flying displays and pageants which helped considerably to increase public interest in the possibilities of air transport. Assistance Extended THIS success influenced the Government to extend their assistance, and by 1930 each state had its aero club, receiving financial support as well as being supplied with aircraft and equipment. In .-iddition to the six chief clubs so subsidised, the authorities made available a light aeroplane to certain other clubs which had been formed in Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria, although it was not possible at that time to afford them any financial assistance. In spite of the general depression, the six main clubs carried on successfully through that period, although in 1931 and 1932 there was naturally a reduction in the hours flown as well as in the number of pilots trained. A new system of subsidy came into force in November, ^Jtt- 'There was some doubt as to whether the financial conditions Of these new agreements would work out as satisfactorily as those previously in force, but during 1934, with one exception, it was found that the clubs actually received a larger amount than they would have done on the old basis. The increase in the case of the Victorian, New South Wales and the West Australian aero clubs was approximately 30, 60 and ^^ per cent, respectively. The Queensland Club experienced a most successful year in 1934, its total flying hours exceeding that of any other club; by reason of the exceptional amount of flying, this Australia And the Clubs club would actually have received slightly more under th old form of subsidy for instructional and practice flying and is the exception referred to above. The method of subsidy might be worth mentioning The new agreements are for three-year periods and a establishment grant of £300 per annum is made to eac club. The condition attached to this grant is that th club undertakes to maintain a training organisation con prising not less than two aircraft, an instructor an- necessary ground personnel, and to earn the full gran it must complete not less than 600 flying hours durin the -ear. The Bonus System IF this total is not reached the grant is reduced proper tionately. A bonus of ^20 is granted for eac) pupil undergoing ab initio training who reaches the 1 licence standard, and a renewal bonus of ^10 for eac member who renews his licence after completing th necessary period of flying in club aircraft. This bom system is limited by certain further conditions, and th maximum amount a club can earn is influenced by th number of aircraft maintained for training purposes. Th organisation with two aircraft can receive only up to te pilots' bonus" and twenty "renewal bonus"— maximum of £400 per annum. This scheme provides ft an increasing scale of subsidy, so that a club having eigl aircraft in commission may earn forty "pilots' bonus and eighty " renewal bonus," representing a sum of £iM per annum. An interesting extension of the activities of the chi< clubs may be mentioned. Arrangements are made in man cases for machines to be flown to suitable centres withi reasonable range to enable pilots and those who have con menced training to have an opportunity of keeping i flying practice. The Victorian Club, for instance, mail tains an aeroplane and instructor at both Ballarat an Bendigo, and are arranging to extend such facilities t other provincial centres. The Queensland Club carries oi such operations at a number of centres within a radius < j 00 miles of Brisbane, and other clubs are carrying c similar work. The following figures indicate the steady progress twin made in flying by the subsidised clubs during the pai three years. The number of hours flown were: I932" 8,884; *933—9.46T : x934—">3°°." "A" licences issue in 1932 were 80, and in 1934, 103. Unsubsidised Schools SEVERAL firms, in addition to the aero clubs, hav maintained flying training schools without receivin Government assistance, iiotably in Sydney and Melbourn< The amount of work carried out by these organisations ca be gathered from the following figures: in 1932 the tot flying hours amounted to 3,052; in 1933, 1,944 > an ' 1934, 3>95^- Pilots trained over the same period were 193.2, 49; I933- 33'- and in 1934, 55. The standard of flying in the chief Australian clubs high, and I was much impressed by the very fine forniatic flying by the N.S.W. Club at Sydney when I was kavir that city. The club had mustered in force to see me oi and the display given on that occasion was equal in man respects to that we are accustomed to expect from K°5 Air Force pilots.
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
