§ Mr. C. WILSONasked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he can state the number of lives lost through accidents to aircraft during each of the last five years; and what relationship such losses bear to the number of machines used and/or miles flown?
§ Sir P. SASSOONThe lives lost through accidents to United Kingdom civil aircraft during each of the years 1931 to 1935 are as shown below. (These figures include accidents abroad in the case of air transport services operated from this country.)
Year. Lives lost. 1931 24 1932 20 1933 38 1934 43 1935 47 While these figures are related to a very great increase in the total flying carried out, there is no one criterion by which it is possible to compare them with the total flying activity of each year. It may be said, however, that in the period in question the mileage of regular air transport services has increased from 1,354,000 to some 7,764,000 miles, and the passenger mileage from 7,000,000 to 41,000,000. At the same time the total number of "A" and "B" pilots' licences has increased from 2,091 to 3,353 and from 315 to 583, respectively, and the total number of civil aircraft with airworthiness certificates from 707 to 1,108. As a further illustration, the hours flown by light aeroplane clubs in the Government scheme have risen from 28,700 to 49,200.