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FROM WASHINGTON SLIPSTREAM

The July 1 issues of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains a proposal by the Bureau of Safety Regulation, Civil Areonautics [[Aeronautics]] Board, that pertinent parts of the Civil Air Regulations be amended to require the holder of an airman or air agency certificate to notify the Administrator of Civil Aeronautics, in writing, of any change in his permanent mailing address within thirty days of such change. This notification shall be mailed to the Airmen's Records Section of the CAB in Washington.

The reason given for the proposed change is that the Administrator has been unable to contact many certificate holders, particularly with the CAA releases and safety directives.

Comments on this proposed change will be accepted until July 25 and will be considered by the CAB before taking further action on the proposal.

Marine Corps Bill—Col. Melvin Maas, National President, Marine Corps Reserve Officers Association, and former member of Congress, has strongly endorsed the legislation introduced by Congressmen Michael J. Mansfield (D., Montana) and Donald L. Jackson (R., California) and Senator Paul H. Douglas (D., Illinois) (S. 2177 and H.R. 5403-5457).

These bills would create and assign duties to the Office of Assistant Secretary of the Navy for the Marine Corps, and fix the personnel strength of the U. S. Marine Corps in relation to that of other Armed Forces.

The Marine Corps would be established at not less than six percent of the total strength of the Armed Forces. This is approximately the relative numerical strength of the Marine Corps in the past.

Those among the air line pilots who are Marine Corps reserves will, of course, welcome the passage of  this legislation, particularly in the face of all the rumors that the Marine Corps was to be abolished or reduced drastically. The six percent ratio of one Marine to every 94 soldiers, sailors and airmen will be maintained, and any Marine will tell you that a one to six Marine ratio is all that is needed for balanced security.

Sen. Wagner Resigns—After an illness of over two years, 72 year old Senator Robert Wagner (N. Y.) has resigned from that august body. Senator Wagner has earned the respect and gratitude of every wage earner in the country through his close association with every piece of progressive legislation enacted during his tenure of 22 years in the U. S. Senate.

Senator Wagner's profound interest in the security and protection of the wage earner did much to influence the liberalization of the Democratic Party Platform.


OLDER PILOTS SAFEST
Air line pilots can hold their jobs efficiently to the age of 55, Dr. Ross A. MacFarland of the Harvard school of public health reports. He said statistics show fewer airplane accidents involving aircraft piloted by men over 40.


Had Senator Wagner been physically able to participate in Committee and Floor work in the U. S. Senate, labor's position in that legislative body would not have been at today's present low ebb nor would it have been faced with the injunction and seizure provisions contained in the recent Taft-Hartley repeal as passed in the Senate by 50-40 majority collation of Republicans and Dixiecrats.


HE FORCED PROBE
[[image - photograph, -INS Photo]]
REP. VAN ZANDT
Set Off a Fuse

Representative James E. Van Zandt (R., Penn.), a member of the House Armed Services Committee, whose charges prompted the Committee's decision to investigate the B-36 procurement program, is shown with model of the giant bomber during a press conference at Capitol. Air Force Secretary Symington, more than a trifle irked by the charges, personally delivered a note demanding that Congress "trace to their source" the rumors of irregularity in the procurement program.


Oxygen Masks Exempt?— The measure prohibiting the wearing of masks in public in Alabama, which recently became law in that State, raises some very interesting technical points in the airline piloting profession. In a recent discussion with one of the Alabama Congressman it was pointed out that the air line pilots frequently wear masks in that State—oxygen masks, that is!

Standardization—The Civil Aeronautics Board has issued a proposed regulation which would standardize the cockpit arrangement of all transport category aircraft "on the drawing boards at the time the regulation is adopted." Comments have been invited concerning application of the proposed standardized cockpit to existing aircraft.

Many aviation groups have been working on the problem of cockpit standardization. The Berlin Airlift has been the proving ground and test chamber for this all-important safety problem. As a result of the success of this operation, the Armed Services, through the Cockpit Layout Panel of the Aircraft Committee of the Munitions Board, have reached an agreement to standardize cockpit arrangements for all aircraft used by the military services.

ALPA has made numerous recommendations for standardization, the necessity for which was recognized as early as August 11, 1947, when definite recommendations were made along those lines. 

Another problem facing the Board is the constant problem of safety in the interchange of equipment by the civil air carriers. There are many applications of this sort before the Board at this time, all of which will see the safety aspect raised by the Air Line Pilots Association.

Opposition Developing—It is the opinion of many in Washington who are familiar with the present All-Weather Airway Program and Implementation, which involves considerable new equipment to be installed both in the planes and on the ground, that standardization at this time may be a little premature.

Each air line, of course, has different route and flying problems and, as a result, has developed its own cockpit layout. Arguments are being advanced that standardization of cockpit layouts in civil air carrier equipment prior to the full implementation of the All-Weather Airway Program may cause serious injury to competitive development and improvement of instruments and combinations of instruments leading to the much desired simplification cockpits.


Cole, Veteran NMB Secretary, Retires

In contemplation of present plans for early retirement from the government service, Mr. Robert F. Cole has voluntarily requested that he be relieved as Secretary of the National Mediation Board, it was announced on June 16.

"Over a period of more than ten years Mr. Cole compiled an enviable record as Secretary of this Board, and it is with sincere regret that the members of the Board have approved his request to return to the field," a National Mediation Board announcement said. "His distinguished career has been marked by untiring effort above and beyond the requirements of the office. He leaves the secretaryship with the best wishes of not only the Board and its staff but his many friends in the railroad and air line industry."

Effective July 1, 1949, Mr. Thomas E. Bickers is appointed as Secretary of the Board, headquarters Washington, D. C., to succeed Mr. Cole, who will temporarily resume mediation of Board cases in the field.

PAGE 16       THE AIR LINE PILOT