Comment on “Determining energy spectra for separate mass groups from EAS: the quest is still on”

Abstract In a recent publication Schatz [Astropart. Phys. (2003), this issue] argues that unambiguous results about energy distributions of primary cosmic-ray mass groups can only be obtained from measured air shower observables if their mutual correlations are explicitly taken into account. This statement is used to challenge preliminary results presented by the KASCADE Collaboration at the International Cosmic Ray Conference in Hamburg, 2001 [KASCADE Collaboration, 27th ICRC, Hamburg, 2001, p. 97; KASCADE Collaboration, Invited Rapporteur and Highlight Papers of ICRC 2001, p. 240]. In this comment it is argued that the criticism of Schatz does not apply to the aforementioned analysis of KASCADE data.