AVIATION ACCIDENTS IN CAMP

We have been constantly shocked the last few weeks by the frequent announcements of deaths at our aviation camps. Every day, it seems, we have read of some fatal accident. To many it has appeared that there must be something wrong; that the instruction is not sufficient, or that the planes are not properly built. There is, however, no good reason to believe that cadet aviators have been needlessly sacrificed. Until the last month the number of accidents has not been striking. The present increases can be explained naturally.

Throughout the winter the prolonged cold spell affected even the Southern camps, and flying was somewhat curtailed. Now that the warm weather has come, many more machines are in the air, and necessarily there are more accidents. As time goes on, also, more new planes are put into operation, and therefore much more flying is done. Our mortality statistics, if compared with those of the Royal Flying Corps camps in Texas and elsewhere, are very favorable, and yet these camps are not considered to be carelessly conducted.

We must not hastily condemn the Government for its management of our aviation centres. Accidents have increased merely as more flying has become possible.