Editor's Column — AVIATSIYA I KOSMONAVTIKA

This document is an excerpt from a 1990 Joint Publications Research Service (JPRS) report, specifically an 'Editor's Column' from the magazine AVIATSIYA I KOSMONAVTIKA, authored by Colonel V. Anuchin. The text serves as a formal address to the magazine's readership, announcing a significant shift in the publication's editorial direction. Colonel Anuchin admits that the magazine's output during 1988 and 1989 failed to meet the expectations of its professional aviation audience. Consequently, the editorial staff is seeking input from readers to transform the magazine into a more effective resource for Air Force personnel and those interested in aviation. The document outlines two primary areas of focus for the magazine's future content: the radical restructuring of military training systems and the improvement of flight safety protocols. Regarding flight safety, the editor criticizes the prevailing Soviet approach of focusing on identifying 'guilty parties' after an accident, arguing that this method is ineffective at reducing accident rates and instead exacerbates the underlying problems. The editor calls for constructive feedback from pilots, navigators, engineers, technicians, scientists, and support personnel to guide the magazine's new trajectory.