Classroom clipper, Vol. XIX, No. 5, June - September 1963

              June - Sept. 1 963
Published by Pan American Airways
Vol. XIX, No. 5
AIR TRANSPORTATION-HIGHWAY TO MODERN WORLD FOR NEWLY EMERGING NATIONS OF THE GLOBE
The events of today are the episodes that will fill tomorrow’s history books; and some of the brightest pages in those books will tell how the United States helped develop countries on the frontiers of the free world.
From 1945 to 1962 the United States expended more than 90 billion dollars to meet unprecedented world challenges and, through investment, demonstrated the advances in human well-being which flow from economic development.
The benefits of the free world’s experience accrue to countries through technical assistance carried on jointly by government and private enterprise.
Work being done to help nations enter the air age was recently noted by Congressman John J. Rooney of New York in a speech urging that more foreign aid be administered through private enterprise and that American companies be encouraged to venture their capital and technical know-how.
EMERGES FROM ANTIQUITY
“Perhaps I can best illustrate this point by an example of what has been going on in Afghanistan,” Representative Rooney said.
“Pan American officials were asked to undertake a program whereby Pan American would make all its experience and competence available to establish and assist in the operation of a sound Afghan airline. As a result, we have today in Afghanistan a local airline; the skills of a certain segment of the Afghan population are being increased and a start made in raising the local standards of living. Pan American is to be strongly commended for responding to the Government’s call.”
While Pan Am acknowledges such recognition with pride, great credit goes to the government of Afghanistan and its people. It is a remarkable episode in contemporary history that a country which only recently emerged from antiquity — when airline technology was already far advanced — should have the courage to take such a giant step toward modern transportation.
OBSTACLES OVERCOME
More remarkable still, Afghanistan has gone on, with the help of the United States and other countries, to develop education, agriculture, hydroelectric power and irrigation, public administration, an internal road
FARAWAY CLASSROOM ... In Afghanistan a Pan Am instructor gives pointers to a new
generation of airmen.
system and broad new facets of aviation.
To grasp the enormity of this accomplishment, visualize a nation for many centuries locked in the past while the forces of great imperial powers whirled around her, always staunchly maintaining her independence — and still doing so today. These were the people who courageously undertook to fly highly complex multi-engine aircraft navigated by means of intricate radio equipment. Insofar as a scheduled airline was concerned, here was one emerging nation that started with exactly nothing.
In 1957, when Pan Am began to help the Afghans develop their aviation, few, if any, trained personnel were available. A man selected for pilot training first had to study English. Then, if he had the equivalent of high school mathematics, he was sent to the United States to train for his commercial pilot’s license. After receiving it, he returned home for extended airline training alongside a Pan Am captain. Trainees selected for practically all airline specialties were instructed in the United States.
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