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Aviation History
1936
1936 - 0829.PDF
351 FLIGHT. APRIL 2, 1936. THE RAeC. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING A Good Year's Progress in Many Different Spheres of Aviation : Chief Points from the Club Chairman's Report H ELD in London on Wednesday, March 25, with the Duke of Atholl in the chair, the annual general meet ing of the Royal Aero Club opened with a review of the year's activity by the chairman of the Club, Lord Gorell. Lord Gorell said that there had been a steady and gratifying increase in membership, and went on to quote some statistics which showed the growth of the interested groups from which their membership might hope for many accessions. A total of 1,368 new " A " licences were taken out during 1935, as against 1,168 for the previous year; 175 B " licences were taken out in 1935, as against 137 in the previous year. At the end of the year current licences were as follows: '" A " 3,353, as against 2,979 the previous year; " B " 583, as against 498 the previous year. During the year the Club granted 955 Aviators' Certificates, a number slightly greater than that of the previous year. Turning now to the aircraft themselves, the total number on the register on December 31, 1935', was 1,535, °l which 589 were privately owned. This latter figure did not include club aircraft. All these figures, said Lord Gorell, showed an increase, but lest they be unduly elated he would remind them they were still much below the figures of many foreign countries. Encouraging the Air Tourist Encouragement of touring had been given continued study, and they had again to record their grateful thanks to Viscount Wakefield, who in 1933 gave a donation of ,£1,500 towards this object. The number of Carnets issued during the period was about the same as last year, approximately 550. This should not be taken as any diminution in the amount of air touring abroad. On the contrary, statistics showed that this was on the increase. The explanation was that each Carnet was avail able for a year from date of issue, and was employed over and over again. Indeed, they were so much employed that they were being continually renewed. The combined efforts of the Royal Aero Club and its affiliated aero clubs in the various British dependencies and colonies, and the world-wide organisation of the Automobile Associa tion, had facilitated air travel for British subjects all over the world. Last year the Royal Aero Club took the initiative in for warding the valuable scheme that the F.A.I, started the year before, namely, the giving of concessions to all club flyers presenting the member's identity card. Last year the scheme embraced nine countries. The efforts of the Club had resulted in the scheme being adopted by fourteen countries; with one or two exceptions these facilities were thus available through out the whole of Europe. Lord Gorell expressed the commit- • tee's warmest appreciation of the co-operation given to this scheme by the aerodrome owners in this country. He thought it would result in a substantial increase in private air touring both to and from Great Britain. The aerodrome owners had thiown their bread upon the waters, and he thought it would come back to them as buttered toast. The Club committee appreciated the importance of looking after the needs of the private owner. To this end they had appointed a special touring committee which dealt with the following subjects, among others: Admission of petrol and oil in aircraft free of Customs duty—this was taken up at Geneva and a favourable resolution obtained from the Transit Com mittee of the League of Nations; compulsory third-party insur ance; the Air Navigation Bill; weather reports made more readily available; extensions of Customs facilities; landing and housing fees at government aerodromes; signals used in air navigation. Apart from many conferences in this country, the Club had been represented at international conferences in Yugoslavia, in Paris, and at Geneva, and in this connection they were greatly indebted to their delegate, Lt. Col. M. O'Gorman. During the past year the Club had accepted the pleasant responsibility of offering hospitality to foreign air tourists as a small return for the kindness so often received abroad. On this matter he would specially draw the attention of Club members to the " Week-end Aerien " on July 23-26. It was estimated that the cost of this week-end would be in the neigh bourhood of ^2,500, and although members and others had made very generous contributions there was a somewhat large amount still to be found. Lord Gorell then went on briefly to review the outstanding sporting events and long-distance records put up during the year, and in doing so referred to the sportsmanship of Marshal Balbo, who, following representations made through the Club, secured the release of Fit. Lt. Rose after he had been detained at Bengazi for a technical infringement on his way back from the Cape. Qliding Clubs' Activities Gliding clubs formed the next section of the speaker's review. There were thirty-two such clubs in England and Wales, three in Scotland, one in Northern Ireland, and one in Jersey. The total membership exceeded 1,000. After referring to the glid ing subsidy. Lord Gorell said that during 1935 the following gliding certificates were issued; "A," 112; "B," 83; "C." 49. This made a total of 244, which showed a great advance over the previous year, when only 90 were issued. At the same time, it was very much below the figures of other Euro pean countries. Four Silver "C" Certificates, the highest award in gliding, had been granted by the International Commission for the Study of Motorless Flight to British soaring pilots in 1935, these being R. G. Robertson, C. Nicholson, J. C. Neilan and S. Humphries. Turning to matters of legislation, the speaker said it was pleasant to note the ever-increasing interest in aviation matters taken by the members of the House of Commons, and the com mittee would like to record its appreciation of the efforts of the Parliamentary Air Committee, presided over by Admiral Sir Murray Sueter, a member of the club; the committee was showing the keenest interest in the Air Navigation Bill now before the House, and had promised to give their general sup port to the points" put forward by the Club. He went on to thank the members of the R.Ae.C. who had given much of their time to matters dealing with aviation legislation. The Financial Side After a reference to the social side of the Club, looked after by a house committee under the chairmanship of Major H. A. Petre, Lord Gorell called upon Mr. F. Handley Page to make a statement upon the financial side of the Club's activities. Mr. Handley Page, in presenting the statement for the year, announced that the majority of the large debenture holders, who provided the finance for the acquisition of the Club premises, had very generously presented the Club with their outstanding debentures, the proceeds from the gift to be de voted to the advancement of private flying, and for the com mencement of a staff superannuation fund. The following was a list of the donations so far received: — Member. W. Lindsay Everard ... H. Burroughes T. O. M. Sopwith H. O. Short A. F. Sidgreaves F. Haudley Page L. L. Irvin C. R. Fairey Stanley Spooner Robert Blackburn A. J. A. Wallace Barr ... F. Sigrist No. of Debentures. 20 10 34 JV 7 '.'.'. '.'.'. 33 32 30 ... 10 9 S 8 [£225) and a (£175) and a donation of donation of £500 £3-2.) 500 250 !<50 725 500 825 MO 750 250 225 200 200 Finally, the following officers were elected unanimously- president: The Duke of Atholl, K.T., G.C.V.O., C.B., D.S.O., vice-presidents: The Duke of Sutherland, K.T.; The Marques, of Londonderry, K.G., M.V.O.; Viscount Wakefield of 1 C.B.E., LL.D.; Lord Gorell, O'Gorman, OB. Committee (nine vacancies). D.S.O.; W. Lindsay Everard, M.P.; Major A. Goo^yo'; A. C. S. Irwin; The Marquess of Londonderry, K.G., MA- •• Major R. H. Mayo, O.B.E.; Lieut.-Col. J. T. C. M«*£ Brabazon, M.C., M.P.; Lieut.-Col. M. O'Gorman, C.B.; ^aJ H. A. Petre, D.S.O., M.C. M. C.B.E., M.C.; Lt.-Col. -Major C. J, W. Darwirb
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