597.6 AC1/247: Telegram

The Chairman of the American Delegation to the Inter-American Technical Aviation Conference (Block) to the Secretary of State

2. The Inter-American Technical Aviation Conference has concluded its work in an atmosphere of cordiality and friendship. The Conference restricted its action to the adoption of resolutions, recommendations and motions. Santiago, Chile, was designated as the meetings for a second Aviation Conference to be held at a date as yet undetermined.

The following countries participated in the Conference: Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Panama, Peru, United States of America, Uruguay, Venezuela.

Permanent American Aeronautical Commission (C. A. P. A.).

The Conference provided for the establishment of an organization to serve the aeronautical interests of the American Republics known as the Permanent American Aeronautical Committee (Comisión Aeronautica Permanente Americana) (C.A.P.A.). The delegations of Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay voted in opposition to this resolution indicating their desire for immediate universal action in this regard as opposed to the thought of the other nations present that the most practical approach to universal cooperation would be the establishment first of a regional organization to coordinate the views of the American states.

The purpose of the Commission is to work toward the unification and codification of international public and private air law to develop [Page 210] and coordinate technical subjects of mutual concern including the correlation of local air routes and services with international air routes and services. The establishment of national commissions in the several American Republics for the purpose of cooperating with the C. A. P. A. is recommended.

The Permanent American Aeronautical Commission will meet periodically in the capitals of the American Republics at intervals not to exceed 2 years. The first meeting is to be held in Bogotá. The Commission will not have plenipotentiary powers and any draft conversations [conventions?] which it may formulate will be submitted for approval to special diplomatic aviation conferences or to the periodic international conferences of American states. When such conventions have received general approval by the American states C.A.P.A. may propose the meeting of a universal aviation conference or adopt other measures with a view to giving a universal character to its conclusions. It is believed that the creation of C.A.P.A. represents an outstanding achievement of the Conference.

Promotion of inter-American air commerce.

Recommendations were adopted regarding the following: (1) the designation of air ports of entry in the several Republics; (2) air transportation documents in which the single document relating to the carriage of passengers, goods and baggage was recommended; (3) the elimination of consular invoices for air transportation purposes; (4) establishment of special courses on air law in colleges and universities; (5) an increase in the frequency of international air services; (6) exemption from duties on gasoline, lubricants and spare parts used in aviation. The United States delegation pointed out that there might be difficulties in complying with this latter recommendation due to the independent authority of the States of the United States in this connection.

Radio.

The Conference adopted the following eight resolutions dealing with radio as related to aviation: (1) that the Habana Conference allocate exclusive aviation frequencies; (2) use of band 200 to 400 kilocycles for air navigation aids as in the United States; (3) and (4) cooperation by the Governments in synoptic transmission and installation of air navigation aids; (5) compulsory installation of two-way radio on passenger aircraft; (6) standards of field strength and interference in low frequency band to be established by Habana Conference; (7) cooperative frequency measurements; (8) use of designation of radio waves by frequency in kilocycles alone. Wave length meters to be dropped.

[Page 211]

Meteorological services.

Coordination and expansion of meteorological services in South American countries was given considerable study and resolutions were adopted providing for close cooperation to accomplish this end, also for obtaining adherence to the rules of the International Meteorological Organization. It is expected that as a result of the Conference uniformity of information and the establishment of twice daily transmissions from Rio de Janeiro of synoptic weather reports from 84 South American stations will be secured beginning January 1, 1939.

Sanitary aviation.

The Conference adopted a resolution dealing with sanitary aviation. This resolution appeared to deal primarily with individual problems pertaining to the countries of South America. The Government of Uruguay was charged with the task of promoting the study of sanitary aviation including the calling of a special conference on this matter. It was also recommended that the relation of medical science to special aviation problems be studied and that cooperation between aerial medical services be promoted. The United States delegation abstained from voting on this resolution.

Touring aviation.

The Conference devoted much time and consideration to the strengthening of friendly ties between the American Republics through the development of sporting and touring aviation. A resolution recommended the establishment of an inter-American Civil Aeronautic Federation (Federación Americana Aeronautica Civil). Mexico was selected as the headquarters of the Federation. The F. A. A. C. is to foster a close cooperation between the national aero clubs through an interchange of publications and information, the promotion of meetings and racing and other appropriate means.

Other recommendations relate to: (1) the encouragement of air marking through the construction of signs visible from the air; (2) encouragement of aerial touring; (3) tourists passports—the United States delegation stated that the Government of the United States had not become a party to the convention relative to tourist passports signed at the Pan American Commercial Conference in 193514 to which reference was made in this resolution.

Block
  1. Report of the Delegates of the United States of America to the Pan American Commercial Conference held at Buenos Aires, Argentina, May 26–June 19, 1935, p. 78.