§ 17. Mr. BILLINGasked the Under-Secretary of State for War what is the percentage of accidents, fatal and otherwise, that have occurred during the training of pilots for the Royal Flying Corps for the last six months of 1915 and 1916, respectively?
§ Mr. MACPHERSON1.5 per cent. in 1915 and 1.53 per cent. in 1916.
§ Mr. BILLINGWhat is the percentage based on? Is it percentage on number? Is it percentage per hundred?
§ 29. Mr. OUTHWAITEasked the Under-Secretary of State for War how many of the Royal Flying Corps have been accidentally killed in this country during the past three months; in how many cases the accident was due to defect in the aeroplanes; can he say in the latter cases what action has been taken to fix responsibility; and with what result?
§ Major BAIRDThe total number of casualties in the Royal Flying Corps in this country for the period 1st December to 28th February Was fifty-eight. Of this number three were due to breakage of 391 machines. Every accident is reviewed by a Court of Inquiry, and in any case where it appears advisable that some structural modification should be made in any particular type of machine, action is taken accordingly.
§ Mr. OUTHWAITEIf not due to structural defect, is it due to ineffective training of the pilots?
§ Major BAIRDI think it is impossible to say to what a flying accident is due. Flying is a very difficult thing to do, and is a new service. It is quite impossible to say on each occasion of an accident what it is due to.
§ Mr. OUTHWAITEIs the hon. and gallant Gentleman satisfied with the position as it is to-day? Does he think there is no remedy for this large casualty list?
§ Major BAIRDNo one can say he is satisfied with anything connected with aviation. It is in its infancy, and improvement is being made in every respect as regards training as experience suggests.
§ Mr. W. THORNEIs the hon. and gallant Gentleman satisfied that the best material is being used and the best workmanship, and the best possible engines are being put into the machines?
§ Major BAIRDI can safely say the system of inspection is as thorough as it can possibly be made. Like everything else connected with aviation, it is being perfected every day.
§ Mr. BILLINGAs I understand 30 per cent. of our total efficiency is being killed during training, will the hon. and gallant Gentleman consider the advisability of altering the system of training, which is largely at fault for all these accidents?
§ Major BAIRDIf I rightly understood the hon. Member to say that 40 per cent. of our total efficiency is being lost in training, he is entirely in error. I have not the figures in my head, but I know they are nothing like that.