§ 33 and 34. Mr. Sextonasked the Secretary of State for Air (1) whether he will consider supplying first-aid supplies and binoculars to isolated moor and hill dwellings on the principal air routes in order to mitigate sufferings of injured aviators, and to enable early location of aircraft which has been forced down;
(2) whether he will consider providing a system of strong light or other warning signals on the higher moorland points on the principal air-routes in order to help in the guidance of aircraft at night time or during fog?
Captain BalfourWhilst I appreciate the motives which have inspired the hon. Member's questions, I am afraid that the arrangements which he suggests would not prove of practical advantage, and, moreover, would be exceedingly costly to set up and maintain. Under conditions of bad visibility, when accidents are most likely to occur, a system of lights would be ineffective and it would not in any case be possible for pilots to hear sound signals. Under such conditions, a much more effective means of preventing accidents is the development and proper use of wireless apparatus and blind flying instruments.