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and if there was any doubt in his mind as to the condition of the runways, he should have taken whatever means were available to him to determine definitely their condition. In addition, the pilots who actually observed the slippery state of the runways during this period should have reported their observations to the control tower in order to make certain that the control tower would have this information and be in a position to make it available to other pilots yet to land.
A substantial amount of testimony was also received at the hearing bearing upon the question whether the United dispatchers who were concerned with the flight performed their duties properly. Responsibility for the dispatch of a scheduled flight in air transportation is placed by the Civil Air Regulations on the company dispatcher.[1] The dispatcher must be convinced before clearing the flight that it may be completed with safety. In addition, under United procedure, a dispatcher is responsible for furnishing a scheduled trip, while en route, with all weather, traffic, and other pertinent information relating to the operation of the trip. Also, according to the testimony of one United dispatcher, such personnel have the power to direct a flight, while en route, to proceed to its alternate or take other appropriate action in the event that the dispatcher, subsequent to its clearance, determines that the flight may not be completed with safety. However, during flight the responsibility for the safety of the ship is primarily on the pilot. A dispatcher, insofar as his control of a
- ↑ A clearance for each trip is issued by the company dispatcher, who must be certificated by the Civil Aeronautics Administration, and is signed by him and by the pilot. The current weather reports, load manifests showing the amount of cargo and its distribution, are attached thereto, as is also a statement containing any known irregularities of field or radio equipment along the route to be flown. The original is delivered to the pilot and a copy is kept at his dispatching station. If either the pilot or the dispatcher does not believe that the trip can be completed with safety, it is cancelled. En route, a clearance may be changed or supplemented by the dispatcher.
