The Aeroplane Inspection Department took the responsibility of determining whether every aeroplane and every engine bought by the Royal Air Force, Canada, complied with the rigid requirements laid down as necessary before acceptance. That the duties of this organization were, in point of fact, admirably carried out, is evident in the splendid results secured by the brigade in flying duty.

The A.I.D. was, under another name, in actual existence in Canada before the arrival of the Corps in January, 1917, being then engaged in supervising the manufacture of machines made in Canada for the Admiralty by a branch of the Curtiss Aeroplane Company situated in Toronto. The work at that time was under the Director of Inspection for the Imperial Ministry of Munitions.

The coming of the Royal Flying Corps to Canada, and the consequent demand for the supply of large numbers of engines and machines, made it advisable that the unit should reap the fullest possible advantage by the expansion of inspection work into an organization, the first duty of which would be vouching for the quality of aeronautical supplies purchased. In order that the work of this Department might be kept absolutely up to date, constant touch was maintained with the Ministry of Munitions in Great Britain, and information regarding every new development was invariably transmitted to Canada without delay. Thus it has been possible that the factories in Canada producing aeroplane material were kept modernized by the best known methods of inspection.

It will be evident that the term inspection was something more than a name. All raw material of every description entering any factory for the manufacture of aeronautical supplies subject to the Aeroplane Inspection Department, is held until a release note is given by the latter, the release note only being issued, in the case of sheet metal, for instance, when a sample has been taken from every sixth sheet and analysed with satisfactory results. In the case of steel tubing, of which a great deal is used, every tenth tube is dealt with likewise, the same minute method being impartially applied to all material received.

As manufacture progresses with the material which has been passed, the manufactured parts themselves are subject to a second inspection, and are not allowed to be sent on to the assembling department unless up to requirements. A common sight in such factories is the supervisor’s metal cage, and it is on record that through one cage passed no less than 150,000 metal parts in one week.

Lastly comes inspection of final assembly; this formerly applied to every machine, but rigging and adjusting before leaving the factory was ultimately reduced to every sixth, results being found acceptable. Here the same rigid method was carried out, and examination release sheets were filled in. If results were satisfactory, these were signed by the Aeroplane Inspection Department, and a copy passed on to the Aircraft Equipment Branch of the R.F.C., the latter refusing each and all deliveries not thus vouched for. So satisfactorily had the system worked out, that at the request of the brigade the Aeroplane Inspection Department installed their representatives to pass upon the work of the Engine and Aeroplane Repair Parks of the brigade.

In British Columbia, the A.I.D. gave valuable services by the passing of all aeroplane lumber purchased by the Imperial Ministry of Munitions for aeroplane purposes, and from this source was drawn raw material required by Canadian factories. The quantities handled were very large, as much as four and a half million feet being inspected in the course of a month. Other services were the supervision of the manufacture of the many engines purchased by the brigade from the Curtiss Aeroplane and Engine Company in the United States.

In order that there might be a thorough consensus upon all technical questions, there was formed shortly after arrival of the R.A.F. an Aircraft Advisory Board. This consisted of representatives from the factory, from the R.A.F. and from the A.I.D., and dealt with the question of any changes required or contemplated in machines. It is hardly necessary to add that no alterations were actually made without conference between the Board and the A.I.D. The chief inspector states that always and under all circumstances the greatest possible harmony has existed between his organization and that of the R.A.F.