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size of the crew personnel. T.W.A. planes do not carry hostesses.
Until this accident happened, no suggestion ever had been made, either by companies or pilots, that the provision for waiving the eight hours rule of exercising every safeguard in flying and as a precautionary step, the rule permitting the waiver of the eight hour regulation has been temporarily rescinded and a thorough inquiry of its effect on pilots is being made.
Careful study of conditions surrounding the accident indicates the advisability of the Bureau continuing to strengthen its regulations regarding the employment of thoroughly qualified dispatchers by companies. This arm of the air service received special attention in the revision of regulations on October 1, 1934, when, for the first time in the history of the Bureau, approval of dispatchers by the Bureau was made obligatory. The Bureau now is convinced that dispatchers should be licensed, that their responsibilities should be made exact and that only men of the highest type should be approved.
The accident suggests the advisability of further study of the reserve fuel problem and this is being made by the Department. The existing rule which requires a pilot to carry sufficient fuel for forty-five minutes flying after landing at his terminal or refueling point will be retained as a minimum. Consideration also will be given to the adoption of a proportionate fuel reserve regulation to apply to long distance flights.
It is deplorable that this accident should have happened when both the plane and the fields over which it was flying were not fitted with equipment now being developed under the supervision of the Bureau that it is believed will lend material aid to flying safety. Rapid progress is being made in the perfection of equipment for the transmission of radio communication and radio direction signals designed to greatly improve air line operations. Blind approach facilities are also making marked advances and it is believed by aviation authorities that if the SKY CHIEF and landing fields in and near Kansas City had been fitted with recently perfected equipment for such operations, the plane might have been brought down in safety.
The Department of Commerce is doing its utmost to make flying safer. It is the desire of the Department not only to meet every legal requirement imposed upon it, but also to exercise every technical and practicable approach to safeguard human life.
