2 B
Experts
SUNDAY. AUGUST 28. 19S2
MEDFOHD MAIL TRIBUNE, MEDFOF! OUGO
By ROBERT J. SERLING
UPI Aviation Editor
Washington - WPD - Air ex.
ports are becoming increas
ingly concerned over avia-
tion's most vital single safety
functlon-the investigation of
crashes.
The concern is three-fold
-There is too much feuding.
buck-passing and dodging of
responsibility in solving acci
dents.
-Every air crash should
teach a lesson but there
some evidence the lessons are
not always applied.
-Too frequently the empha
sis is on attaching blame rath
er than taking action to pre
vent recurrences.
The federal agency charged
with determining the cause
of civilian crashes is the Civil
Aeronautics Board. The
CAB's bureau of safety, which
has about 100 investigators,
is the unit entrusted with this
task.
There is little tendency to
criticize the CAB or its bureau
of safety, which most observ
ers agree has done a remark
able job under trying circum
stances. But throughout the
aviation industry-and within
the CAB itself-some sharp
questions are being asked
about the future of accident
investigation.
The plain truth is that
crashes are getting harder to
solve in this fifth year of the
jet age. Planes fly higher and
faster. This means wreckage
can be scattered over -vlder
areas. Planes carry more fuel.
This means destruction by fire
Is more complete than ever
before. Planes are far more
complicated-actually a safety
factor but one that magnifies
the scope of almost every ac
cident investigation.
One of the chief difficulties
is that the CAB literally wears
two hats. It tries to solve the
crash but in doing so !t fixes
responslblllty-and on the lat
ter may hinge millions of dol
lars In 1 a w s u i t s. Claims
against the airlines and manu
facturcrs involved in just two
blectra crashes totaled $95
million.
This has resulted in acci
dent hearings being "adver
sary proceedings" rather than
an objective, impartial search
for the truth. Jerome Lederor,
director of the highly-regarded
flight safety foundation,
recently summed up the solu-
Become Concerned Over Investigations of Air Crashes
tion:
"The airlines, manufactur
ers and even the government
can be expected to protect and
defend their special interests
under conditions of accident
investigation which, while in
tended to bring out the facts
to prevent a recurrence of
the accident, are in actuality
later used to assess blame.
"Hearings conducted in a
climate of tension, antagonism
and publicity are not condu
cive to the free, frank disclos
ure of evidence. A climate of
quiet, dignified objectivity
might be more productive.es-
pecially if the legal obstacles
could be reduced."
Melvln Gough. who once
headed the CAB's bureau of
safety, agrees.
"Air crash investigators en
counter certain barriers to
information," he said in
speech just before he left of.
f ice. "Manufacturers
and other parties frequently
are reluctant to talk to inves
tigators because of the possi
bility of later damage suits."
The Air. Line Pilots associa
tion (ALP A) for years has felt
that fixing blame rather than
instituting rerorms is the heart
of the investigative problem.
ALPA, for example, concedes
that pilot error is a major
source of accidents. But ALPA
also believes the CAB does
not always look for the reas
ons why pilots make mistakes.
Too often, ALPA says, pi
lots are trapped into fatal
errors by factors beyond their
control-inadequate airport fa
cilities, poor cockpit design,
obsolete navigation and light
ing aids, or marginal federal
regulations, to cite a few.
Jealousy between the two
government air agencies also
is believed to have hampered
crash investigation. A long
simmering feud between the
CAB and the Federal Aviation
Agency has exploded in the
open on recent occasions.
There are some men in the
CAB's bureau of safety who
fear the FA A wants to take
over accident investigation
which FAA administrator Na-
jeeb E. Halaby heatedly de
nies.
CAB Chairman Alan S.
Boyd, a close friend of Hala
by, also denies a serious feud
exists. Perhaps there is har
mony at the upper echelons,
but in the rank and file of
the two agencies there is fric-j
tion.
The feud has died down
considerably In the past few
weeks. But it still smoulders
and is one of the reasons why
some experts have proposed
a brand new, independent
agency to handle accident in
vestigation. One proponent is
former FAA Chief Elwood R.
Quesada. He argues that the
CAB's preoccupation with air
line economic matters has in
effect destroyed its objectivity
in solving crashes.
But the feeling is that the
CAB is perfectly qualified to
continue in charge, provided
reforms are made. What re
forms? Here are some of the
proposals being considered.
-Lederer of the Flight Safe
ty Foundation has recom
mended formation of an elite
corps of international accident
specialists, carefully picked
and trained, with worldwide
laboratory facilities at their
disposal. He said air travel is
global, that lessons can be
learned from any crash, no
matter where it happens. The
CAB, in effect, would be a
part of the corps.
-ALPA is suggesting that
the CAB's system of appoint
ing "teams" to crash probes
be extended into the actual
writing of the final report.
The teams include pilots, the
airline and the manufacturer
of the plane involved in the
crash, the FAA and other in
terested parties.
ALPA feels that the CAB,
which draws heavily on such
teams in the early phase of
an investigation, also should
consult them during the pro
cess of analyzing evidence.
This, the pilots' union be
lieves, would end much of the
bickering and argument that
often follows a CAB report.
-The CAS and FAA are
seriously considering setting
up a school for accident in
vestigators. FAA also has of
fered to put its vast communi
cations network and its size
able fleet of fast planes at
CAB's disposal. The board has
only one air craft, an aero but not so generous as to de-
commander, and frequently
has been criticized for not
getting to accident sites soon
enough. This is one reason
FAA officials "get into the
act" and into public print so
often with comments on pos
sible causes.
-Some experts urge that a
specific liability limit be put
on airline accidents, such as
a flat $25,000 or even $50,000
payment to survivors of crash
victims. The amount, they
say, should be large enough
to provide ample protection
feat the purpose of the pro-
posal-to reduce the expensive
avalanche of legal claims
which so obviously play a
major role in accident inves
tigations. Finally, there is another
proposal-from Lederer-which
is so logically simple that one
wonders why nobody thought
of it years ago:
Paint the inside of an air
craft structure with different
colors, so in the event of a
crash the pieces can be identi
fied more easily and recon
structed more quickly.
...kw.i. , r ...... , .. . w,, , fr, mii il I'littiai niiii iim ei.r
-(FULLER'S DOLLAR-SAVING
RECONSTRUCT AIRCRAFT The federal agency charged
with determining the cause of civilian crashes is the Civil
Aeronautics Board. The CAB's bureau of safety, which has
about 100 Investigators, is the unit entrusted with this task.
Here, CAB experts earlier this year are shown at the pains
taking task of reconstructing a mock-up of the rear one
third of Continental Airlines jetliner which crashed near
Centervllle, Iowa, May 22. CAB officials said cause was
an explosion in the tail section. Bits of wreckage (on floor)
will be hung on wood framework, at right. (UPI)
Pressure Against Catholics in
Poland Stepped Up by Gomulka
By K. C. THALER
United Prats International
London-IUPD-The Commu
nist regime of party chief
Wludyslaw Gomulka has
stepped up pressure against
the Catholic church In Po
land, ending a temporary
lull in state-church conflicts.
The Warsaw authorities,
apparently perturbed by
the inroads of Catholicism
In the country, have moved
to limit still further reli
gious education of the
youth. For its part the
church is hitting back
agnlnst the "nibbling
away" of its remaining prl
vilages. It has the deter
mined leadership of Stefan
Cardinal Wyszynskl.
Signs arc that the fight
between the government
and the Catholic church is
entering a new and impor
tanl stage.
Two weeks ago the Po
lish government authorities
closed a number of con
vents and church run nur
series in the Warsaw area,
evicting nuns and children
from their homes.
The cardinal at once pro
tested the action In a let
ter read from Catholic pul
pits throughout the War
saw diocese. But the Com
munist move was followed
by a further government
decision to take over, with
in a year, all schools and
orphanages In the country
run by nuns and monks.
The new decisions consti
tute a heavy encroachment
on the special position the
church has held so far in
Poland. Some reports sug
gest the government in
effect seeks to terminate
the privileged position of
the church.
The main struggle has
shifted to the field of edu
cation, with the Commu
nist authorities apparently
anxious In narrow the in
fluence of the church over
Poland's youth since they
have failed to win over the
older generation to
atheism.
The campaign has been a
slow and cautious one. In
line with the "privileged"
position the church has
been allowed In Poland,
alone among the satellite
countries in East Europe.
Fifteen years of Commu
nism have not destroyed re
ligion in Poland and. ac
cording to available infor
mation reaching the West,
there is still more religious j
freedom "nl han
exists in most of the satel
lite states.
Religious services are
continuing throughout in
country and churches are
packed. The state has con
tributed to lhe mainte
nance of church buildings
as historic monuments, but
It has blocked the building
of new ones in many cases.
Officially, the party Is
committed to opposing re
ligion but it moves care
fully In the face ol deep
rooted religious feelings of
the population,
The struggle dates back
to 1945 when the regime
first prohibited teachers
other than clergy to teach
religion. This was fairly ef
fective at the time because
there were not enough
clergymen to do the job.
The church's situation im
proved under the tint
churchitnte accord of April
14. 1950. Under the gov
ernment, In exchange for
an agreement that lhe
church would not be used
for antl-ttate purposes,
pledged it would not "intro
duce limitations into the
present slate of religious
instruction in school."
But in September. 1953.
Cardinal Wyitynskl was
sent to prison in the wake
of the Stalinist tightening
of the screw everywhere
behind the iron curtain.
Religious instruction was
systematically cut down or
altogether barren through
out the country.
The "thaw" and the
aftermath of the Hungarian
revolt brought a new state
church agreement, negoti
ated by Gomulka and the
Cardinal, which again per
mitted religious education
during school hours but
only at the express request
of the parents.
The overwhelming ma
jority wanted it, leaving
only some 80 schools in
1957 without religious in
struction. Since then, administrative
pressures and practices
gradually have again nar
rowed religious education
opportunities.
The truce was Inter
rupted formally in Febru
ary. 1959. when the finance
minister suspended a num
ber of tax concessions to
the church. The state began
to reexamine the status of
church property in the for- j
mer German territories.
and the clergy was in- 1
formed its members could
no longer enjoy the privi
lege of exemption from
military service.
Last year a formal ban
was Imposed on all reli
gious Instruction in schools.
Prlosls were ordered to
register their classes held
In churches, and submit
lists of children attending
them. The majority of
priests refused to comply
with the registration order.
The church is now fight
ing the latest attack on
voluntary religious instruc
tion outside schools. But
the government has not re
treated although it prom
ises that the take-over of
religious schools will ba
carried out "with gentle
ness and tact."
The ONLY Time-Tested
GLASS FIREPLACE SCREEN
Enjoyed by Thousands In the Rogue River Valley
RADIATES MAXIMUM HEAT
e ELIMINATES ROOM HEAT LOSS,
SAVES fUEl
e PROTECTS AGAINST HYING
SPAKS, ASHES. DIRT AND DRAFTS
e TWIN DOORS OPEN WIDE FOR
EASY IOADING OF FUEL
e CONTROL DRAFT WITH TWO SlID.
ING DOORS FOR FAST OR SLOW
FIRE
e SOLID RRASS rnklCTftili-TiM,
BEAUTY UNHEARO OF. THOUSANDS
IN USE WINTER AND SUMMER
URN WOOD, COAl OR GAS
PHONE 772-7166
SMITH LUMBER CO.
Corner 8th and Fir Sts.
I
I
I
m i-ri i--r r -r i -r- r n v i m i-rM-t-ii i"7-. urn i -v i t mA
II I 7AT DJIfrTm )1 1 nlnMWu I R D i nli r CUTi I IIIlMJI
liwjii mm nn mm
PICNIC 'N PATIO SPECIALS, TOO
FULLER O III Rustic Finish Paint H i QSget 4 1 f Il " T '
,!!rKr I COMPLETE "IJ WerM
i Chouse paint rA r IU "hakes, shingles, S3 i SPRAy OUTFIT JJlBIvZ ' STEPLA? ,-
tot vZ 'S-W-$ TnCei V 1 m Compressor, hose, iFMI g!S i'f&l
I.ijJSj ft pi, $H1 1 ssl i
l Adjusts to 8 tm.yiZk - TTE TABLE S tVL V 111 oodenhan- S
IS'alfln ss I"? ill I
K Reg. $4.98.. 0" J ll 9VaL 99C J Smart Rattan- I Stronger, lighter S
ft v r4U j 19VU" ? weave Jnsulation. fTlMS: L thana.',To'o1A98 i
K B M 2 PURE BRISTLE J 7 Keeps drinks hot (v SiStSiM Re"' 18-98 " H
0 SemWloss. 8 tS BRUSH 4 01 $ llci , 198 Mr 9'12' Plastic
J Reg. $5.98,, $2.31... lil jOOYalne.. I Drop Cloth .. 33c fl
VJHSL i 4" NYLON PAINT BRUSH : aTfnTjuG I CaV
I 7 lights, 25-ft cord. : "nS-PereaxxJSAWylon j
I
Reg. $1.98
298 Keg, ,5.39 339 j
FULLER ITZikn!
PICNIC JUG j
Insulated. Vented for easy :
pouring. fd '
Beg. $1.49 yoCj
LET US RECOMMEND A RELIABLE
PROFESSIONAL PAINTER
HOMI DtCOIRATINO CENTCFIS
PAINTS I W. P. Fuller & Co.
WALLI.AJ.IF,. . MIRRORS j 4fh
772-7107
FREE CONVENIENT PARKING!
Our Store Is Air Conditioned for Your Convenience
SCHOOLS WILL OPEN SEPTEMBER 10.
DRIVE CAREFULLY! MANY CHILDREN
GO TO SCHOOL FOR THE FIRST TIME!
DON'T LET IT BE THEIR LAST! YOUR
CAUTION CAN SAVE A CHILD'S LIFE.
DRIVE CAREFULLY around schools and playgroundsl
B on the lookout for children when they walk to
nd from school! Your vacation from school children
it over nowl
BE ON THE ALERT when you are near a schoolbu.
Of course, they have to obey all traffic rules! But,
give schoolbusses a break anyway . . . they carry
priceless cargo!
PARENTS! NEVER STOP TELLING children about the
many traffic dangers! Only then can we hope to
help reduce traffic fatalities! One out of seven
fatalities involves a schoolchild! One out of ten
fatal accidents is caused by teen-age driver!
" ' 1 1 1
DRIVERS! DON'T HURRY when you drive! We may
is well face it! We cannot reduce traffic casualties
unless we slow down! The lives of others are in
the hands holding your steering wheel. The minute
you may save, isn't worth the life of a schoolchild!
HAVE YOUR CAR CHECKED by an expert! Any
ear that is not in perfect mechanical condition is
potential murder weapon! The few dollars you
spend may save a lifel
Published in cooperation
with the Medford Traffie
Safety Council by The
Mail Tribune