AVIATION, HAZARDS OF. Owing to increased knowl edge, greater experience and improved apparatus, aviation haz ards are decreasing at a comparatively rapid rate all over the world. Contrasted with 16o flying accidents in the United States in 1926, including passengers, mechanics, pilots and others, during the following year, with about 1,50o licensed pilots involved and greater mileage covered, there were only II fatalities, or a rate of approximately seven per i,000. In view of the fact that the industry is still in its infancy, that new routes and methods are continually being tried, this is not considered a large percentage.
In Great Britain the Imperial Airways of London, in the three years ending 1927, had the good fortune to carry 5 2,000 passen gers over 2,50o,000m. without a single accident. This is in pleas ing contrast to the record made by surface methods of travel in the same territory at a corresponding stage of development, as evidenced by the fact that in 1842 eight railway lines carrying I0,000 people over 3,5oo,000m. had a death-list of 22. It is gratifying to realize that modern methods of research and scien tific enquiry, while increasing the speed of travel, are being em ployed with equal vigour and success to reduce the hazards involved therein.