AIR FORCE ACCIDENTS
[To the Editor of THE SPECTATOR.]
S1R,—The fact that " non-commissioned officers have of late figured more prominently in the list of deaths " does not necessarily imply that an extra large proportion of pilots is being drawn from the ranks. Reference to the Air Force List (or even to the programmes of the annual R.A.F. display) will show that, for several years past, there has been a gradually increasing proportion of sergeant-pilots in the R.A.F. It should hardly be necessary to add that the standard of skill demanded, and attained, is the same for officers and N.C.O.'s.
I believe that the chief reason for the increase in accidents, both in civil and service flying, is that much more bad-weather flying is being done. With the latest instruments, and proper training, it is now possible to fly confidently in weather which would have been regarded as hopeless a few years ago. Presented with this increase in his powers of flight, it is only human
nature that a man should sometimes overestimate his ability to defy the weather ; and that is a state of affairs which is gradually being overcome as our pilots gain more knowledge of their capabilities and limitations.
I do not think that those who arc concerned with the air defence of this country will agree that, even in peace time, " the first concern of the pilot and his machine should be the safety of both." The first essential is fighting efficiency under every possible condition of weather that an enemy can fly in. This efficiency can only be achieved at the expense of a certain amount of risk ; but it is a risk which the Royal Air Force realises and faces willingly for the sake of the country.
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