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CURTIS 5-94005

39-01 Main St. 
Flushing, N.Y.
September 19, 1949

Captain J. H. O'Neill
83 Law Street 
Valley Stream, N. Y.

Dear Captain O'Neill:

As you are probably aware the Company (Colonial Airlines) is now conducting a training program in DC-4 equipment. As you may not know the manner in which the training is being done, I would like to take this opportunity to inform you:

1. The pilots are being trained on their days off.
2. They are being required to fly in excess of 85 hours per month in order to receive their training.
3. The Company is not holding ground school classes as part of the DC-4 training program.

I feel that this training program is unsafe.

The DC-4 is a "T" category aircraft and it requires new and different considerations in its operation. The question that arises in my mind is: Can the pilots be adequately trained to fly DC-4's without a ground school? In addition, I feel that the training program interferes with a pilot's rest periods, as he is required to do his flight training on his days off, or between trips. The pilots are also being required to fly more than 85 hours. This whole training program is a departure from the way it was set up by agreement between the Council and the Company in 1947 when the first of our pilot's received DC-4 training. At that time, as you no doubt remember, the pilots were taken off schedule for the duration of the training period. 

It is my thought that this should be officially brought to your attention as you are the Chairman of the Safety Committee. If the Company receives no official criticism directly from the Council then for all practicable purposes it can be construed by all concerned that the Council is in agreement with the manner and extent of the training program. I don't think we should be put in a