§ 38. Mr. BERNAYSasked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he will consider the introduction of legislation making the use of silencers obligatory on privately-owned aeroplanes?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for AIR (Sir Philip Sassoon)No, Sir. My Noble Friend is wholly in sympathy with the object in view, namely, the elimination of all avoidable noise in flying; but it would be altogether premature at present, and indeed useless, to make the fitting of silencers legally obligatory. Silencers would diminish the 750 noise from the engine but would not affect that from the propeller, and they would have the disadvantages at once of impairing the efficiency of the aircraft and of increasing the risk of fire. The whole question is under active consideration and it is hoped that the technical progress which has been and is continuing to be made will have the effect eventually of solving this very difficult problem.