Navy Considers New Student Air Program

A plan to stimulate interest in aviation by shortening military service for Flying Club members is under consideration in Washington, James H. Smith, Jr. '31, assistant secretary of the Navy for Air, disclosed Saturday.

Smith, a former president of the Flying Club, refused to elaborate on the details of the program. "Investigation into the possibility has just started at the Pentagon," he said.

Meanwhile, Crocker Snow '26, director of Aeronautics for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, told the CRIMSON yesterday that under the plan as conceived by Smith and himself, the Navy would make an allowance for the time Club members had spent in learning to fly.

Another feature of the program if it receives Pentagon approval would be financial reimbursement by the Navy to students who had learned to fly at their own expense, Snow said. "Whether the repayment would be complete or only partial is something which hasn't been worked out yet."

Snow pointed out that few students want to become military pilots because a four year committment is required. "In order to relieve this situation, we propose that the club be run with Navy guidance," he continued.

Flying Club President Edward P. Williams '56 said last night that he was not in a position to make any comment on the program's details.

Club Declines Offer

The Club recently declined a Navy offer of two obsolete T-28 training planes because of the excessive operating costs involved, the CRIMSON learned. Williams refused to affirm or deny the offer.