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242     HELICOPTER AIR SERVICE PROGRAM

air transportation which helicopters can provide, the effect of the supersonic transport will be to further exaggerate this undesirable situation.

In 1964 the three helicopter carriers (CHA-NYA-LAA) transported over one-half million passengers on the intercity, city-to-airport, and airport-to-airport traffic. The acceptance of this public service is growing steadily.

If Federal support is discontinued abruptly there is the strong possibility that the technical skills accumulated by the various people associated with the helicopter industry will be lost to the aviation community. With respect to the pilots of the three scheduled carriers, they have contributed immeasurably toward the advancement of the "state of the art" through the introduction of new techniques, instrument presentation, and general efficiency and safety of operations. For example, the pilots at New York Airways developed the true vertical autorotation technique in the V-44B. Factory pilots were checked out in this maneuver and they, in turn, then traveled to the various military establishments throughout the world where the V-44B type of helicopter was being utilized and checked out the military pilots in regard to use of this technique. This contributed to the overall capabilities of the helicopter and significantly increased the level of safety. It also paved the way for further development of true vertical landings and takeoffs with the multiturbine-powered equipment now in use.

It is obvious that if these highly skilled people were lost to the industry due to the cessation of Federal support, especially when the pioneering is behind us and a profitable operation is in sight, it would be extremely costly and time consuming to try to start over again at some later date with new personnel. The rather moderate cost involved to continue would certainly appear to be warranted. Further, the manufacturer should be encouraged to continue development and production of more efficient and economical vertical-lift, short-haul equipment. 

Extremely worthy of consideration in this matter is that a reservoir of the most experienced and skilled helicopter airline transport pilot personnel is immediately available in an emergency, i.e., military or civil defense. It is estimated that approximately 50 percent of this professional pilot group flying for CHA, LAA and NYA hold responsible positions in the active military Reserve forces.

SUMMARY

Since the safety factor of the helicopter operations has been proved in these many years of operation, and

Since instrument operations are being started and will greatly increase the schedule completion reliability factor, and

Since the multijet engine helicopters have increased the reliability of the machine and increased the revenue potential, and 

Since the public and airlines are increasingly accepting the value of helicopter transportation to reduce the time from home and business to the airport, and 

Since the helicopter companies have demonstrated increasing productive efforts to become self-sufficient, and

Since the companies organization of skilled employees represent a nucleus of well trained people to be used in national defense or other national emergency, and

Since this valuable group of personnel can be used to lead programs to extend self-sustaining helicopter service to many more cities

Therefore, the Air Line Pilots Association strongly recommends that a systematic program of reducing subsidies be established to provide a basis for continued development and usefulness of the helicopter to the air transportation system of the United States.

Senator MONRONEY. While you don't fly helicopters, yourself, I believe most of the scheduled helicopter lines are flown exclusively be members of the Air Line Pilots Association, are they not?

Mr. RUBY. With the exception of one, yes.

Senator MONRONEY. This is recognized as one of the proficiencies that the pilot should have. Generally, he becomes a fixed-wing pilot and then a helicopter pilot?

Mr. RUBY. In most cases. There have been a few isolated instances wherein the individual learn to fly on a helicopter and was not qualified on fixed-wing. But the greater majority were fixed-wing pilots first.