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Aviation History
1945
1945 - 1411.PDF
FLIGHT JULY igrn, 1945 CORRESPONDENT E ticular problem, ol primary interest to those responsible for the general organisation of airfields and airports, will require very careful consideration, not only in the drafting of regula- tions, but in their implementation. Airciaft, because of their construction, and of the fuel at present used for their propulsion, must at all times constitute a high potential fire risk; and a fire once started will assume large proportions at great speed. It cannot be too strongly emphasised that the rapid develop- ment of aircraft both in size and complexity has brought with it correspondingly increased problems on the technique of dealing with outbreaks of fire on the ground, and these problems are further complicated by the requirement that the special fire-fighting equipment necessary must possess a high degree of mobility. This in turn restricts the limits of suitable rescue and fire-fighting apparatus. It is certain that success in dealing with outbreaks of fire in aircraft on the ground can only be achieved provided that the aircraft crash, rescue and. fire-fighting crews are trained specialists in this particular work. r:\ It is not always appreciated that it isinot enough for th£ whole-time personnel employed at airfields on/ cijash-tender duties to be completely conversant Jp&^tne use/>f their rescue tools and the operation of the fj*£fighjing apparatus ;^hey must also have some knowledge of the qfnstr/ction of ajfrcraft and be familiar with its interi* It is often said that crash-tejider cre/Wsrj&ve nothing to do but to wait idly around is farther from the trut" crash rescue crews mu for action with the absolute necessary to keep them mentally a ,.ppens. / Nothing effectiyfe, aircraft Always be ready / It ife, therefore, by" abns/ant training./ g The maintenance" of equipment and 'p'recauti^n/ry duties also afford scope for the employment 'of their" time to good advantage. We may expect that the post-war aircraft accident rate will be low, bat when incidents do occur, as they'undoubtedly will, split seconds, sound organisation and well-trained, efficient crews will often constitute the difference between success and catastrophe. The selection of personnel for these duties is of very great importance. Aircraft fire-fighting and rescue work require a very high physical standard of strength and fitness and it is a calling which can be followed by only comparatively young and active men. It is suggested that the requirements for the solution of this problem are of sufficient importance to warrant—when circum- stances permit—the establishment by some suitable authority of a school where men selected for airfield fire-fighting duties can be given training on specialist lines, and on the successful conclusion of their training certified as proficient in this branch of a difficult and dangerous profession. In some instances the cost of maintaining a body of well- trained men exclusively for aircraft rescue and fire-fighting duties appears to be prohibitive. It should, however, be pos- sible, by proper planning and organisation, to combine fire- fighting duties with others such as those of security police, flying control, or men handling aircraft. Personnel so em- ployed must, however, conform to the standard of physique and intelligence required for fire fighters and it would need to be understood that fire fighting was their primary function. The syllabus for a course of training for airfield fire fighters should, it is suggested, include instruction in the following subjects:—• (1) Elementary knowledge of the construction of air- craft including :— fuel systems; electrical installations; controls and switches ; emergency exits ; '' break-in '' positions ; fire bulkheads; built-in fire extinguishing installa- tions; and technical terms used. Inspection of aircraft from fire risk point of view. Elementary knowledge of flying regulations of interest to crash-tender crews. Elementary lectures on flying control. Lectures on " Fire Drill " in flight. Local topography, grid maps, how used and their value. (7) Thorough training with all types of fire-fighting rescue apparatus, and the maintenance of equipment. (8) First-aid to the injured. (9) Team work; physical training; appearance and discipline. (10) Organisation; roll-calls; reading of Orders and Regu- lations. It is hoped that the Air Ministry will advise civil airfiekL owners on fire-fighting and allied subjects, and afford all pos- v sible assistance by the appropriate department of the Air Ministry, based upon its wartime experience/of handling every description of fire started by enemy action/and other causes. "KLAXON." (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) A PILOT'S JOB More Esprit de Corps Wa IN " Indicator's" " A Pilot's Job Is No Sinecure," publishedin Flight, June 7th, I am sure most people will,agree that the time is now ripe for the encouragement of better under- standing between all sections of aviation. It is not fully appreciated by ground personnel, especially engineers, that the pilot who has just landed may have had a particularly sticky flight, and consequently is rather apt to " go off the deep end " with the person he first meets on land- ing—unfortunately most often the poor old ground engineer. It is rarely a personal issue, but often develops into one. I have long considered that the physiological aspect has been much neglected in aviation's curriculum, but I do consider that it would benefit all if the pilot would reserve his comments, oft- times very acid, until what "Indicator" terms "the ten minute period '' has elapsed ; it often happens that the snag he is grousing about could have been rectified if the previous pilot had reported it and given the G.E.s a chance to do some- thing about it. We as a body should be far closer knit and realise that one without the other would put all out of aviation circulation; therefore it calls for what we termed in the R.F.C. " squadron spirit," or perhaps just plain esprit de corps. Unfortunately, many pilots grab the first mechanic they see and then proceed to " get it off their chest." It is quite reason- able to expect that if they reserved their comments and placed the facts before the senior engineer officer tb^ would invari- ably receive full attention, and then, by discussing the facts, come to that happy state of co-operation that is so necessary; after all, the majority of engineers do realise that the chap that flies the aircraft is entitled to air his views. I certainly agree with "Indicator's" last paragraph, but would like to suggest that the word '' expert'' should read " everyone " and that confidence is the only successful basis to build upon. G. E. (ex-R.F.C, ex-R.A.F., etc.). BOOK REVIEWS R.A.F Parade. Compiled by S. Evelyn Thomas. John England Publications, Ltd. 13s. 6d., post free.T HI" anthology of R.A.F. humour gathers together into 96 pages a collection of some of the brightest efforts of a number of writers and cartoonists famous for their laugh- making ability. Nobody, for example, needs any introduction to that priceless double-act. Raff and Anthony Armstrong, whose treatise on " Nice Types ' opens the fun in this volume. Then there are many little gems from Punch and other journals, including, if we may modestly mention it, some that have graced the more light-hearted pages of Flight from time to time. Evelyn Thomas has struck a nice balance between text and pictures, so that one is always lured on to turn just one more page before setting tnis book down. As a most palatable tonic, it is, in fact, just the sort of book to pick up at odd moments but don't expect to be able to put it down again so easily. They Fly From Britain. By R. G. Davies and V. J. Galliano. Harborough. 21s,T HIS extremely well-presented book deals with 14 types of aircraft (eight British and six American, all of which have played a big part in the war in Europe) and may perhaps be described as a meritorious attempt to encourage recognition (not teach it) by presenting the " atmosphere " of the aircraft rather than a dull specification. The subject-matter of the text is chosen on the basis that different aircraft are remem- bered for different reasons, which may be structural, functional or historical, and each type is illustrated by a coloured caricature with small perspective silhouettes above, and nose and tail line-drawings beneath. Some are also illustrated photo- graphically. This book may seem rather a slim guinea's worth, but its 44 pages measure nin. x8|in. and are of fine-quality art paper, the colour printing being most attractive. It has the additional appeal of the unusual.
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