It is singularly appropriate that Mr. Walter Tye should be in the Chair today, not only by reason of his membership of the Air Registration Board, that Cerberus which watches so efficiently over so many aspects of safety in the air, but also for a more personal reason. He recently received the “ Aviation Week “ Award for distinguished service in achieving safer utilisation of aircraft, and I should like to take this semi-public opportunity of adding my congratulations to the many which he has received.

In many of the offices of my airline one finds displayed a small plaque. On it appears, among other words, the legend “Safety is no Accident.” Although I am no great believer in the power of an oft-repeated formula to achieve miracles, I do believe that these words hold within them much of my flight safety philosophy.