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Aviation History
1948
1948 - 0589.PDF
APRIL 29TH, 194W FLIGHT 479- Correspondence one day, be it far off or near, will show just how great a world- shrinking vehicle it has become. Finally, to conclude this letter, is not the very thought or flight in the true meaning of the word an inspiration to everyone who bemoans progress? I am sure that everyone who travels by air—and everyone who flies for any reason at all, be it in a club, charter, private or airline machine—has that inspiration at some time or other Perhaps it can best be described as a sense of utter, boundless freedom and a satisfying knowledge of triumphant conquest—the freedom and conquest of God's beautiful sky by man. Think of it for a moment—seated comfortably in, say, a Dakota, taking off for Jersey with a holiday mood in your heart. Turning into wind, with the glistening silver wings spread out on each side, the throbbing motors lashing the good air JCvith their props. Then the slow opening up of the throttles, the 'ground moving past quicker and quicker, the ceaseless roar of the engines, and finally, that wonderful feeling of being air- borne with Mother Earth falling away and the clouds coming down to meet you. To me it is not only the speed, the comfort and the practical value of air travel that attracts the average passenger, but the thrill of flight. This feeling puts into a material view the progress that changes the world. It is this thing I believe that encouraged the pioneers and gave the early experimenters the courage and hope to over- come the often heartbreaking disappointments which they faced. To overcome the difficulties and disappointments of TO-DAY we must regain that sense oi pioneering and translate it to overcome our present time troubles. That, Mr. Matheson and other '' doubting Thomases,'' is my reply to your views on this very pressing subject. Morpeth, Northumberland. E. F. HIATT. TRAINING FOR CIVIL AVIATION Aldermaston Defended 'pHE implication in your "Outlook" of April 15th, that -1- there is something rather shameful in the State showing an active interest in training for Civil Aviation cannot go unchallenged. Let me say at once that it is no part of my intention to detract in any way from the value of the fine work of many of the private schools. Nor do I wish to enter into a dis- cussion on the general, merits or otherwise of State monopoly versus private enterprise. But when the principle of State-aided technical training is questioned, surely we are entering a sphere of thought where no room for controversy should exist? The doctor, dentist, teacher, scientist obtain their vocational training at the Uni- versities where their fees, though not inconsiderable, are still only a fraction of what their training really costs. The plumber, gasfitter, electrician, engineer, can attend his local technical college and receive vocational training for a trifling cost. A chain of technical institutions exists for the training of the merchant seaman, the nett result of which is that whether he be deckhand, cook, engineer or future shipmaster, the road is absolutely clear for him to start as a youth and reach his goal at purely nominal cost for his training. Alone amongst the professions, however, the merchant air- man finds no provision made for his technical education. Whether he be pilot, navigator, radio operator, steward, traffic clerk or what you will, there is no technical institution within the State educational system where lie can receive his training. Hi:; only sources oi training are those schools run under private enterprise where the charges even for ground training are quite high and for full technical training are, of course, quite prohibitive. The State educational system ignores him. Of course, as you point out, some of the pri vate schools are first class, but—it was always expensive to qualify as an airline pilot. Under the new licensing require- ments it would be so expensive as to be impossible. In fact, there is no direct way in which a youth of today can make a career in civil aviation in any aircrew capacity. There is no technical institution where those already in civil aviation can continue their vocational training on terms anything like those available to other professions. In passing it is worth noting at this point that the com- petition of Aldermaston referred to by "Outlook" as state- aided and "unfair" is not wholly either. The fees for tuition at Aldermaston are, if anything, higher than those elsewhere. No, Aldermaston came into being for two reasons only—because the need for that technical training was vital if the airlines were to get going and keep going, and because there is no other place where that training, keyed as it had to be so closely to airline requirements, could be obtained. But the average man cannot afford to pay for his training at Aldermaston any more than he can afford it at Air Services Training or anywhere else. There can only be one answer, and sooner or later it mustcome—a Technical College for Civil Aviation, an integral part of the State educational system, providing vocationaltraining for every category in civil aviation at fees which, if not quite nominal, will at least be within reach of the poten-tial students. We have seen an act of great vision in the founding of the College of Aeronautics at Cranfield, providing post-graduate and research training on University lines for those concerned with the production side of the industry. Is it too much to hope for that the same vision will be applied to the training problems of the operating side? Is it too much to hope that Civil Aviation will ultimately receive its own Technical Col- lege, complementary to the College of Aeronautics, and so make the picture complete? One word in conclusion. It is not for me to suggest where such a college should be—there might even be more than one. What would be essential, however, is that it should be very closely linked with the airlines it is to serve, if the output was to be moulded precisely to the requirements of the operator. Otherwise we should only see history repeating itself, and as time went on another Aldermaston would have to be formed by the Corporations in order to round off the training of the Technical College. "NAVIGATOR." Reading, Berks. [Our correspondent has rather missed the point of our com- ment. In 1947, when the Aldermaston school was registered under the title Airways Training, Ltd., we did not challenge its right to train personnel for the corporations. But now, when sufficient have been trained and the school enters the world market in direct competition with private enterprise, it is a different matter altogether. As for " Navigator's" plea that there should be a technical college for civil aviation, with nominal fees, that is something else again. At present Aldermaston is, he states, charging higher fees than A.S.T., for instance, and is open to take pupils from all over the world. Does he suggest that the same thing should apply to the State-supported college, and that British taxpayers should foot the bill on behalf of civil aviation personnel of other nations?—ED.] FORTHCOMING EVENTS Apr. May May May MayMay May May MayMay May May May 30th.—United Flying Clubs Ball, The Dorchester, Park Lane. 5th.—British Interplanetary Society : " Lunar Research." H. P. Wilkins, F.R.Ae.S. 8th.—R.Ae.S. (Glasgow) : Visit to Prestwick Airport. I Ith.—R.Ae.S. (Graduates and Students) : " The Light Aeroplane and the Future of Private Flying." P. G. Masefield, M.A., F.R.Ae.S. 17th.—Cannes International Air Rally. 19th to 28th.—Engineering and Industrial Equipment (Home and Export) Exhibition. 19th—Aircraft Recognition Society: "Aircraft Photography.' , John Yoxall. 21st.—Institute of Navigation : " Meteorology in Aviation : Is it Obsolete ? " Francis Chichester. 22nd and 23rd.—Shannon Aero Club Rally. 24th to 29th.—Aircraft Exhibition Cardiff. 27th.—Royal Aeronautical Society : Wilbur Wright Memorial Lecture. A. Gouge, B.Sc, F.R.Ae.S. 29th and 30th.—Netherlands Aero Club Invitation Rally, Ypenburg, Holland. 29th and 30th.—Butlin's Week-end Air Rally. Speeton, Filey. Yorks. June 5th.—Cardiff Air Display. June 12th.—Wolverhampton Aero Club " At Home." June 12th and 13th.—Butlin's Week-end Air Rally at Ingoldmells, Skegness. June 13th.—Henri fiardel Cup for model aircraft with mechanical motors. June 19th to 21st.—Royal Aero Club Week-end for Foreign Guests, London. June 26th and 27th.—Butlin's Week-end Air Rally. Broom Hall, Pwllheli. N. Wales. July 3rd to 5th.—Private Air Rally for members and associate members of the Royal Aero Club at Deauvillc, France. (Guests of M. F. Andre.) 3rd.—R.Ae.S. (Glasgow) : Visit to Blackburn Aircraft Ltd., Dum- barton. 11th to 17th.—Swiss International Gliding Competitions. 17th.—Southend-on-Sea Air Rally. 24th to 26th.—Private Air Rally for members and associate members of the Royal Aero Club at La Baule-Escoublac, St. Nazaire. (Guests of M. F. Andre.) July 31st.—Aero Club of Orange, Air Rally. July 31st to Aug. 8th.—International Model Aircraft Meeting, Eaton Bray, Beds. July July July July J
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