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Aviation History
1937
1937 - 0788.PDF
302 FLIGHT. MARCH 25, 1937.' Of course', it is comparatively soon spotted, perhaps after two or three weeks, and possibly the man is dismissed ; but so easy is it to get taken on at almost any aircraft works that this is only passing the trouble on. In view of such occurrences, it seems a pity that every man cannot have a working number (not a works number) stamped on to a card, and a note entered on the card each time, he leaves a job, giving the reason for his leaving. The number could easily be the same as that upon his National Health card, which would avoid any chance of duplication. Strange as it may seem, no reference or testimonial ever gets asked for in the aircraft industry as far as the fitter, machine-shop operator or labourer (as apart from the staff) is concerned. He just writes down the last two places at which he worked, and starts right away. Even if the previous employers are consulted, and dis close that a man was dismissed for gross negligence, he has had two or three days in which to do his worst, and sometimes that same worst has to be seen (and occasionally heard and smelt) to be believed. Caught Out It is, of course, all due to the fact that the Industry has been caught out by a Government that has itself been startled from a deep sleep into sudden wakefulness. The apprentice system has died out, and no steps have been taken to train any of the younger generation in the way that they should go. There are, as we all know, thousands of boys in the factories, but they have little or no chance of systematic instruction, and have to pick up whatever they learn by a process of trial and error—mostly error. Having myself made all the mistakes that they make, I. can sympathise with them, especially as in my own case it ivas somebody's job to see that I did not make the same mistake twice, let alone go on making it over and over <igain for hours, and perhaps ruining a whole batch of detail parts before the inspection department finds out. This is not put down in any kind of exaggerated way, because it is happening all over the country, and work is so easy to get that the firms know their employees will walk out as soon as look at them. Standard wages, and scrapping the bonus system, might help. Human nature being human nature, a man is constantly alert for something better. If another firm pays the same wage as his present employer, he thinks that he may make Forthcom March 27-30. Yorkshire Gliding Club: Easter Meeting, Sutton Bank. March 30—April 12. Ely Aero Club : Easter Instructional Course. April 3. Rugbv: R.A.F. v. Army, Twickenham. April 6. R.Ae.S. Students' Section Debate : " Speed v. Safety," 7 p.m., R.Ae.S. Library. April 8. R.Ae.S Lecture* : " Control Problems," by Mr. A. G. Pugsley. April 10. Aero Golfing Society : Martlesham Match. April 15. R.Ae.S. (Coventry Branch) Lecture : " Production and Inspection Methods Applied to Screw Threads," by S. J. Harley. Armstrong Siddeley Canteen, 8.15 p.m. April 15. Italian Aero Club : Sahara Rally. April 22. R.Ae.S. Lecture* : " Power Plant Trends," by Mr. G. J. Mead. May 6. Aero Golfing Society: Instone Trophy. May 9. R.Ae.S. Garden Partv, Great West Aerodrome, Haves. May 12-19. Austrian Aero Club: Austrian Whitsun Flight. May 13. Leicester Airport Coronation Air Display. May 15. Cardiff Aero Club : Coronation Rally. May 15-18. Yorkshire Gliding Club: Whitsun Meeting, Sutton Bank. Mav 26—June 6. Brussels Aero Show. May 26-30. Austrian Aero Club : Salzburg Gliding Contest. May 27. R.Ae.S. Wilbur Wright Lecture : " Turbulence,' by Dr. Theodor von Karmsin. Science Museum, South Kensington. May 29. Empire Air Day. May 29-31. London-Isle of Man Race and Round-the-Island Contests. June 4-6. York and Leeming F. Clubs : International Meet ing, York. June 11-14. Hungarian Aero Club : International Conference. June 12. Bristol and Wessex Aeroplane Club: Garden Party, Whitchurch. June 15-20. Magyar Piiota Picnic, Hungary. June 20. R.Ae.C. of Belgium : Gordon Bennett Balloon Race, Brussels. •These lectures take place in the Roya! Societv of Arts, lfl, John S ., Loncli more bonus. Off he runs to give it a trial, and if he fails to get what he hoped to get, off he runs again. Perhaps he comes back to his original firm, to do the same work and get a higher rate of pay for doing it, having demon strated his independence. Fired by his example, off go some of his friends, and the merry game moves on and on. What can be done to stop it? Who will work for, let us suppose, is. 4d. per hour, when men up the road get is. 6d. for the same job? Just when a man has settled down to a particular routine and atmosphere, his place is vacated and a newcomer has to fit in, find his feet, and generally pick up the threads, cr be jammed in and have the threads pushed into his hands. * * * So far I have dealt only with the troubles and scrapes into which the men actually engaged on production fall. The final result is an industry with only about three-fifths of its possible efficiency, meaning three-fifths of possible pro duction. To sum up the improvements that should be made at once, and could be made with no extra expense in the long run: — (a) Give a chance for all men new to aircraft construc tion to have just a little instruction in basic methods. (6) Don't work men until their eyelids are drooping with utter weariness. Work them only while they can concen trate on their jobs. (<;) Segregate experimental work. (d) Standardise measurements in inches and decimals of an inch. (e) Tell men what tools they must have, and see they have them. (/) Provide other tools and equipment as the demand requires. (g) Root out the time-wasters. (h) Pay a good standard wage, and scrap the bonus system. The Price of the Phoenix r should be pointed out that the price given for the Heston Phoenix on p. 257 of last week's issue is that for the latest machine fitted with the Series II Gipsy Six with v.p. airscrew and not for the standard model, which is priced at ^1,700. The performance figures given were for the latter; the latest type cruises at 135-140 m.p.h. ig Events June 21-28. Federation Aeronautique Internationale : London Conference. June 26. Royal Air Force Display, Hendon. June 28. S.B.A.C. Display, Hatfield. July 1. Aero Golfing Society : Flight Trophy. July 3. Newcastle-on-Tyne Aero Club : London-Newcastle Race. July 3. Ramsgate Airport, Official Opening- July 4-18. Aero Club of Germany : Wasserkuppe Gliding Meeting. July 10. Cardiff Aeroplane Club : London-Cardiff Race. July It. Italian Aero Club: Circuit of Rome. July 15. Aero Golfing Society : Jubilee Cup. July 17. Portsmouth Aero Club : Garden Partv. July 19-28. Federated Touring Clubs of Belgium : Belgian. Tour. July 23—August 1. Swiss International Meeting. July 24. Devon Air Day and Race: Plymouth, Exeter and Haldon. July 31. Cinque Ports FlyJng Club : Folkestone Aero Trophv Race. July 31—August 2. Yorkshire Gliding Club : Opening Meeting. Sutton Bank. August 1-14. Yorkshire Gliding Club: Instructional Camp, Sutton Bank. August 1-31, New York—Paris Air Race Flights. August 6-7. Austrian Aero Club : International Raliv, Lake Worth. August 14-22. Yorkshire Gliding Club : Open Contest, Sutton Bank. August 21. Thanct Aero Club : Aviation Meeting and Race. August 21. Midland Aero Club: "At Home." August 22-29. Italian Aero Club : Circuit of Littorio. August 28 and 29. Cinque Ports Flying Club : Lympne inter national Rally and Wakefield Trophy Race. September 10-11. R.Ae.C. : King's Cup Race. September 12. Aero Club de France : Coupe Deutsch de la Meurtbe, Etampes. September 23. Aero Golfing Society : Cellon Trophv. WJC.2, at r>.TO p.m. Admission is by ticket obtainable through a member.
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