Press Release, Letter from the President's Special Board of Inquiry on Air Safety to President Harry S. Truman

IMMEDIATE RELEASE JULY 2, 1947 260 The President today received the following second interim report of the President's Special Board of Inquiry on Air Safety: "July 2, 1947 My dear Mr. President: An emergency situation leads to this second interim report of your Special Board of Inquiry on Air Safety. Accidents in the approach and landing category are by far the largest category of serious accidents in air transportation. In 1946, for example, they represented 35 per cent of the fatal accidents of that year, costing 85 deaths. Their reduction is not a matter of regu- lation but of the installation of adéquate aids. They occur mainly during the winter months and at night, and unless some provision is made now for the procurement of these aids the tragic pattern of the pust will inevitably repeat itself. Provision for the installation of these aids, which can be grouped into four types, was made in the program that you submitted to the Congress. What is happening to that program can be set forth suc- cinctly by the following table: Provided for by Provided for by Aids Recommended House action Senate action Approach Lights 68 units 30 units 2 units TRUMAL NARA Ground Control Approach (GCA) 23 " 9 " 2 " & Surveillance Radar 25 " 9 " 4 " Instrument Land- ing System (ILS) 68 " 30 " O " Total 184 units 78 units 8 units The extent to which the Congress may choose to provide for the installation of these aids is, of course, a prerogative of the Congress. But a mistaken idea seems to be prevalent that this program of air safety is out of line with sinilar programs being pressed by the Armed Services in behalf of national defense. It is for this reason that the Special Board in pursuance of its instructions to promote air safety be lieves itself obliged to report to you. A brief word on the character of these aids is in order. High intensity approach lights permit pilots from heights of 200 to 500 feet and at distances of a half mile to make contact with the run- way. Landing systems can bring aircraft as close as that and closer to the ground, but lights such as these are of prime significance in making that final safe contact with the runway. Commercial pilots regard this aid as of the utmost significance in making landings in daytime or at night under low ceilings and in murky weather. Ground Control Approach or GCA is the method by which pilots, through the use of ground radar, are talked into safe landings. Surveillance Radar is an installation which enables the control tower at the airport to determine with precision the directional position distance and altitude of aircraft within twenty or thirty miles of the airport. It may prove to be of inestimable value in controlling air traffic congestion at airport termini. (OVER)