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76            HELICOPTER AIR SERVICE PROGRAM

itself, meant the commerce factor was met, because, to say it another way, it is in the interest of the United States, on the basis of commerce, to be certain that these three carriers continue in operation.
I don't think we would be prepared to concede that before the Board at all. But our position, and our frank judgment at this time——and we will be going into each one of these factors, making as careful analysis as we can, as well as considering the case put on by the carriers——our frank judgment is that termination of the subsidy will not mean termination of the carrier operations.

Senator LAUSCHE. Thank you very much for your help. We will now call on Mr. Charles Kaman, president of the Kaman Aircraft Corp.

Senator LAUSCHE. Mr. Kaman, you may proceed.

STATEMENT OF CHARLES H. KAMAN, PRESIDENT, KAMAN AIRCRAFT CORP.; ACCOMPANIED BY KARL G. HARR, JR., PRESIDENT, AND RICHARD H CURTIS, AEROSPACE INDUSTRIES ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA, INC.

Mr. KAMAN. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
My name is Charles H. Kaman, president of Kaman Aircraft Corp., appearing on behalf of the Aerospace Industries Association. With me is Mr. Karl Harr, on my right, who is president of the AIAA: and Mr. Richard Curtis, also of that association.
Our statement is relatively brief and direct, and it might be better if I read it.
The Aerospace Industries Association is an association representing the manufacturers of the Nation's aircraft, including vertical-lift vehicles, missiles, and spacecraft.
It is our privilege to appear before you today to present our industry's views on the importance of continuing the federally aided experiment in commercial helicopter operations.
Our own interest stems from our responsibility as manufacturers for developing the comprehensive and versatile equipment which the Nation requires in order to meet noth present and future air transportation needs. As the helicopter is proving to be an increasingly vital link in an effective and efficient national transportation system, we have viewed with apprehension certain recent proposals which would eliminate or reduce to less than meaningful proportions the present commercial helicopter experiment.
It is our conviction that the purpose for which this experiment was begun has been, and is being, accomplished successfully. It seems clear that the program was conceived to serve as a national development and testing ground for commercial helicopter operations—to ascertain through pilot projects in three cities whether or not scheduled helicopter operations can be made economically self-sufficient and expanded to other areas across the Nation. More than that, it was hoped that through this experiment operating techniques for scheduled commercial helicopter transportation would be developed and refined and that the helicopter manufacturers would be provided with the operational data they needed to improve the quality of the vehicles. These goals are being attained.