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Aviation History
1949
1949 - 0328.PDF
FLIGHT FEBRUARY 24TH, 1949 The Man-power ProblemC OMMENDABLE as are the plans for expansion of industry in case of emergency, based on the existing nucleus of designing firms, they will be of no avail unless sufficient numbers can be recruited for the manning of the Royal Air Force. The Government now realizes that it is essential that a high proportion should be regulars, and all must sympathize with the intention expressed in the Statement "to do everything in their power to stimulate recruit- ment for the regular Forces and the re-entry of time- expired men;" Certainly, so far as the Air Ministry is concerned, there is much room for improvement in the approach to recruiting, but appeals will not suffice, no matter how well presented. There must be a drastic overhaul of certain service conditions. Recent articles and correspondence published in Flight have indicated a diversity of views on what is wrong and what is needed to put matters right. There is no unanimity, nor could it be expected. But by careful sifting of the many opinions expressed, the Air Ministry should be able to trace some of the worst obstacles to reviving the old spirit of the R.A.F. It still survives in many squadrons and on several stations. What is needed is that it should pervade the entire Service. Our own view is that, first and foremost, officers and N.C.O.s must be better trained in man management. Sir Philip Joubert, in his first article (December 9th, 1948) stressed this point. On the Correspondence pages of this issue a letter from a former Army officer quotes famous leaders on the subject of discipline. Sir Philip, we may recall, expressed it that discipline "must be administered by officers and non-commissioned officers who have been trained properly in the art of man man- agement, and who are prepared to give not only their working hours but their hours of relaxation to the ser- vice of their men." Our correspondent in this issue quotes General Wavell as saying: '' Give your men the best you can give them when circumstances allow, and then drive them hard when you have to." CONTENTS Outlook - . - - - - A Call on Canadair Here and There - ... FokkerS.II Instructor in the Air Passing-Out Parade - - Static Discharges from Aircraft - Soaring Weather Jet Initiation ...... Civjl"Aviacion News ----- Records and Transports • Statement on Defence - Correspondence Service Aviation - - - - - Forthcoming Events page 238 - 211 - 213 - 216 - 218 - 222 - 223 - 225 - 230 - 231 - 234 - 236 - 237 - 239 * If it be agreed that discipline, of the right sort, is the first need, the most urgent task is to attract the right type of officer material, and then to give the best pos- sible training in man management. But the new rates of pay, as many of our correspondents have pointed out, are not such as to make it possible, in many instances, for officers to make both ends meet, and not a few have had to resign from the R.A.F. for that very reason, although they loved the Service and would have pre- ferred to remain in it. Next comes the question of "other ranks." The Statement outlines various steps which are being taken to make conditions of service such as to compete on reasonably equal terms with employment in civil life, and to ensure that there are openings for ex-regulars in civilian occupations when they leave the Service. That is all very commendable, but actual conditions of certain work must be improved. For instance, one feels that in this age of mechanization too little has been done to take some of the drudgery out of station work as distinct from aircraft servicing and maintenance. The Statement refers to waste of man-power and to concentrated effort to secure progressive improvement. Our Correspondence has indicated fruitful fields. PROOF POSITIVE : When a letter of intent was signed on July 24th last year covering the construction of twenty-two Canadair Fours for B.O.A.C. doubts were widely expressed regarding the manufacturer's ability to deliver on time. The first machine was to be handed over by May 30th this year. Here, on Canadair's final assembly line, are the first five machines of the order, Number I of which should be flying before the end of the month. All twenty-two should be delivered months ahead of schedule and, after completing four similar machines for Canadian Pacific Air Lines, Canadair ire confident that they can deliver as many as twenty additional aircraft before the end of the year. B t
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