Delayed Reaction

Abstract

ON page 368 of our November 1947 issue we announced the appointment by the MINISTER OF CIVIL AVIATION OF TWO Committees: (1) On the certification of aircraft and approval of equipment with AIR COMMODORE HELMORE as Chairman and GROUP CAPTAIN WILCOCK as Vice‐Chairman, and (2) on the licensing, recruitment and training of civil aviation personnel with GROUP CAPTAIN WILCOCK as Chairman and AIR COMMODORE HELMORE as Vice‐Chairman. The report of the second is still awaited, but that of the first was issued on June 19. It is worthy of note that in fact the HELMORE COMMITTEE—as it has become known—reported to the MINISTER on June 3, 1948. Calculation shows, therefore, that the Committee spent 255 days on its deliberations (involving 26 meetings, the consideration of written evidence submitted by 26 organizations and the examination of 29 witnesses) whereas the MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION has taken a further 350 days to examine and consider the Report and decide on its attitude towards the 20 recommendations made and even after the lapse of that time is still keeping ‘under examination’ 7 of these. This dilatoriness is quite unpardonable and reflects no credit on the MINISTER or his Departmental advisors. The members and staff of the AIR REGISTRATION BOARD remain in doubt as to their future, since the ‘reserved’ points are those suggesting changes in the organization and financial structure of the BOARD, and it is difficult to see how the other proposals can be put into full effect while these fundamental matters remain unsettled.